When I was a kid, I did speech and drama lessons…

… mainly because I sucked at the piano, and my parents insisted we have an interest outside of school.

Each lesson encompassed several activities; reciting poems, preparing speeches on topics of interest, miming and improvisation, sight-reading, vocal exercises and theory.

I learnt how to deliver presentations with clarity, thought and passion. I prepared for and passed exams, participated in competitions and even had my own pupils when I was in high school.

It was my introduction to planning lessons within a strict time frame and learning how to offer constructive criticism without chopping someone off at the knees.

My confidence as both a teacher and a writer stems from these experiences as a child.

I’m glad I was useless at the piano — and somedays, I wish I had explored acting as a career.