Natalie Wilson
At one point it was thought that Natalie Wilson wouldn’t even be able to go to school. She couldn’t stand, walk or talk and had problems hearing and with her short-term memory until, at the age of three, she started dance classes and speech therapy, which helped things to improve.
However, she continued to struggle at school and problems with her short-term memory meant she couldn’t read more than a page and she had difficulty spelling. She failed all of her Year 9 SATS.
Things continued to improve slowly for Natalie who left school with a few GCSEs. She enrolled on a BTEC First Diploma in Acting at Colchester Institute. However, after just one week, the tutors recognised her talent and she was transferred to the National Diploma of Performing Arts in Musical Theatre, even though she didn’t have the necessary entry grades. Having passed this with three merits, Natalie then enrolled on a Foundation Degree and proceeded towards an BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre, which she is to complete in June.
Hoping to become a dance teacher, Natalie has had good preparation by choreographing last year’s Witham Operatic Workshop, which was a sell-out performance of High School Musical, and she assisted with the musical direction alongside her mum who was the Director. In September, Natalie is working with Witham Music Theatre with a performance of Children of Eden.
Natalie said, “Learning has given me confidence and drive. In school I was in the bottom group. People called me thick and I thought I would have to stack shelves all my life.”
“Learning helps you achieve your dreams. Never give up learning, always try.”