My name is Lilianna Ramirez, and I’m in Year 12D. Earlier this year, I received news that completely surprised me: I had been awarded the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for Qatar.
The way I found out was unforgettable. My drama teacher, Ms Fagan, pulled me out of class, and I assumed she needed to discuss something related to the school production. Instead, she sat me down, took out a sheet of paper, and asked, “What do you think this is?” I honestly had no idea. When she revealed the certificate and explained that I had achieved one of the highest grades in the country for Drama, I was stunned. I did not even know this award existed. It still feels surreal, especially because I left the exam feeling quite unsure. Having my hard work and creativity recognised with something so tangible means a great deal to me.
I chose IGCSE Drama for a very simple reason: it was paired with French and Arabic in the subject blocks, and I knew neither language. What began as a practical decision ended up becoming one of the most enjoyable parts of my school experience. Drama was the one space where no one judged anyone else. Every student had moments of being silly, expressive, loud, or exaggerated, which created an environment where everyone felt free to be themselves.
One of my favourite memories took place in early Year 10 during a group devised performance. Our piece unexpectedly moved one of my friends to tears. She even started sniffling. The script was not particularly emotional, so the whole moment was quite surprising, but I am convinced her reaction helped us secure a higher grade. I still appreciate that moment to this day.
The most difficult part of the course was memorising lines while studying for eight other subjects. It often felt overwhelming. The written exam created its own challenges, especially when I had to produce long responses worth ten marks at a time. It was frustrating to feel like I had written enough, look at the clock, and realise I still had two hours left.
Some situations could only be handled in the moment, but memorisation became manageable over time. Rehearsals helped tremendously, and writing out my lines repeatedly eventually fixed them in my memory.
Drama taught me that I am more creatively expressive than I ever believed. I used to be extremely shy and serious, but Drama pushed me to react, emote, and experiment. I ended up developing a very strong poker face when it matters and a not-so-great one when it does not. More importantly, I discovered that creativity is a bigger part of who I am than I had realised.
My relationship with creativity has always been complicated. I do not play instruments, my drawing is decent, and my creative writing sits slightly above average. I frequently felt that my ideas were stronger than my execution. Receiving recognition for acting, which requires confidence and presence, has given me a renewed sense of creative pride. I know that younger Lilianna would be proud to see how far I have come.
This award has boosted my confidence in many ways. I am more comfortable with public speaking and improvisation, which helps me a great deal in unexpected situations. I am also reconnecting with my love for singing, and I plan to audition for a main singing role next year.
I am currently completing the IB programme and unfortunately do not take Drama or any other creative subjects. My plan is to study biochemistry at university and work in a lab or research centre in the future.
Even with these goals, I do not want to lose touch with my creative side. I hope to join a drama or theatre club at university if one is available. I am also considering working part-time as a children’s drama mentor, which would allow me to earn a little extra and stay connected to something I enjoy.
If I could offer one piece of advice to students taking Drama, it would be to let go of any embarrassment. Everyone in the class will have moments where they look silly or exaggerated, and this is part of the learning experience. You will laugh at others, and they will laugh at you, but none of it is meant to hold you back. When someone teases you about a role, it usually means you performed it well and entertained them. Shyness will only make the process harder, so allow yourself to be bold and show what you can do.
For all students in any subject, my final message is simple: do your best and have fun.
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