Being inspired by the (sometimes famous!) people we grew up with

The other day I noticed on Facebook that someone I used to have keyboard lessons at school with, Kerri, is going to play her first gig in Dresden later this year. It got me thinking how I am constantly amazed by some of the things people I have come into contact with are now doing.

For example, I was in the same year at school as Nick Howard. Nick won the ‘Voice of Germany 2012’ competition and some of his YouTube videos have been seen more than 700,000 times. I can remember seeing him sing in the talent show at school. In another contest I dressed as a woman, but that is a different story.

Or, from my college when I was at University:

– Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey.

– Archie Bland, Deputy Editor of the Independent.

– Joe Craig, bestselling children’s writer.

– James Fox, television art historian.

– Allegra Stratton, political editor of Newsnight.

Or for other people I knew at Uni:

– Paul Lewis, previous Reporter of the Year.

– Tim Stanley, historian.

One of my students when I taught voluntary lessons in Romania is now a famous actress.

People I know are doing such a wide range of exciting things. One of my closest friends, Jack Melhuish  is Director of Marketing for Atlantic UK. Seeing him on TV with Ed Sheeran and Plan B at the Brits was amazing. Leigh Fletcher is a planetary scientist. Emily Wise is working for MSF in Uzbekistan. Rupert Abbott works for Amnesty with a focus on Cambodia and a few other countries. Annie Lush competed in the Olympics.

Of course there are many other people doing brilliant things I don’t have the space to mention.

What I find amazing is that when I normally see people doing such things I think that they are not at all connected to my life. But when you see people that you have worked alongside doing it, it is (in my view) a lot more inspirational.

I’d love to hear your stories of people you went to school with who are now famous!