The Years 10, 11 and 12 Drama students had an amazing opportunity to hear from past student Charmaine Bingwa (Class of 2001) this week, who spoke about her non-traditional route into the world of acting.

Charmaine’s hard work, dedication and true belief in herself and her ability have projected her into Hollywood, where she is kicking goals! Her strong work ethic, values and beliefs are the cornerstone of her success.

Here’s what some of the girls said about the time they spent with Charmaine.

I was really inspired by Charmaine. I was touched by her belief in my aspirations to be a performer and her message of determination as well as staying true to oneself. I believe everyone, no matter what they dream to achieve, could learn from her words. Ciara Sadler, Year 11

The opportunity to listen and speak to Charmaine was truly a privilege, and whilst a career in the field of drama is something I’m considering, it was some of the bigger lessons that I found the most interesting when she spoke. For me the biggest takeaway from her talk was that people often don’t get where they are going because they don’t know where they want to go. She emphasised the importance to have the strength in yourself to go out and create opportunities, instead of waiting for them to come to you. Another point I took away was her perspective on rejection when applying for different opportunities. She said it isn’t so much the case of being rejected because you are not good enough, but because the right pathway or opportunity for you just hasn’t opened up yet. Emma Robinson, Year 12

Charmaine’s contagious passion for life and work is incredibly inspiring, proving that no matter what stage you are in your journey, anything is possible if you have perseverance. I learnt the importance of self-confidence and trust in yourself no matter what others may say. Sofia Basso Betancourt, Year 12