b'Articles Taylor William-HillFrom Kidderminster to Exeter: Being a Working-Class Student in Drama at ExeterAn original essay written for this journalArticlesTaylor William-HillWheneverIfeelasthoughIveaccomplishedsomethingthough university may be a bit of a stretch for you. That in my life, I always have an introspective reflection on mywas the moment that everything changed. I was entirely troubledtimesinhighschool.Thereisonemomentinshot down by this careers advisor and left feeling dejected. particular that Im still quick to revisit when I reflect on theI responded to this scathing vilification in the best way I past four years of my life. could: I passed my GCSEs (albeit, marginally), completed my A-Levels, directed a sixth form production of The History IwasinYear11atthispointandIdalreadyfailedmyBoys and got into the University of Exeter.English and Maths GCSE the year prior. This spiralled me even further down the route of sheer apathy: at this point,Im not sure I was prepared for what was to ensue during I couldnt have cared any less, and I just wanted to leavethe next four years of my life. Moving into university halls, school irrespective of my grades. Admittedly, I was neverattending lectures and living like an adult seemed surreal the best-behaved student in the year. I was halfway throughin light of my apathetic behaviour throughout high school. my final year when I had my compulsory post-16 careersLonggonewerethedaysofloiteringoncouncilestates guidance meeting. At my careers meeting, I sat down andafter school, skiving while smoking on the far-end of the was asked the obligatory question:field, winding up teachers at the earliest convenience and masterminding rivalries between the schools in my district. What do you want to do once you finish school? Im militantly proud of spending so much time in rough areas growing up, and I wouldnt change it for the world; Id I told them I was considering applying for the sixth form,never heard of such terms as working-class, upper-class, as I knew the teachers already and I thoroughly enjoyedtoff and tory, but we would often call the odd person studying Drama. Next question: posh. Exeter introduced me to a whole new lexicon of ways to describe someones social class.What do you want to do once you finish sixth form?Before moving away, I was naturally worried about whether Ouch. Tough ask for a 16-year old with low motivation.peoplewouldlikemeornot,andIbecamemoreself-aware about where I was from. I was shamefully trying to I said I wasnt entirely sure, but after visiting the Universityreconstruct myself as a person. I vilified where I was from of Birmingham, the idea of university study was one I wasand spoke about Kidderminster with such contempt you considering. I added that Id also watched the film Starter forwould probably think I was never from there in the first 10 recently, and it had got me marginally excited about whatplace. When I went home for reading week in my first term, I could bemaybe an artsy, left-wing, twenty-somethingmy parents had picked up on how much Id changed and not James McAvoy with wispy hair, stripy jumpers and thicknecessarily for the best.rimmed glasses. Although I wasnt remotely political, it just sounded cool in my head. Why are you pronouncing your As as aahs now?She gave me a look of something mixed between pity andWhy do you look so unhappy to be home?incredulity. I think you may be aiming your expectations abittoohighthere.IhaveyouracademicperformanceWhy havent you kept in touch with your sixth form friends recordshereand,inmyprofessionalopinion,Ifeelassince moving away?57'