Finding confidence and community through acting
For Kylie Hill, returning to education was about far more than gaining a qualification - it was about rediscovering her confidence, reigniting her passion and sense of purpose, and becoming someone her children could look up to.
Kylie first joined Leicester College through an adult evening acting course, after spending years working in education, youth work and housing support. She’d loved acting from an early age but had lost confidence over the years due to life’s challenges, including raising two children as a single mum.
“I’d always loved drama when I was younger,” Kylie says. “But as you get older, you get stuck in one world and lose confidence. I joined the night class as a hobby to do something for myself - and it completely changed everything.”
A supportive environment
After completing her first uncredited evening course, Kylie’s tutor, Robin, encouraged her to continue her studies and apply for the BA (Hons) Acting (Creative Performance Practice) degree.
“Robin gave me so much encouragement and confidence,” she explains. “All the tutors have been absolutely brilliant and everyone on the course has been so lovely. I’ve made friends of all ages, and the support has been amazing, especially when I’ve had to juggle studying with school runs or deal with the occasional stressful day with the kids.”
Kylie says she’s also grateful for the College’s support services, which helped her access grants and additional support while studying.
New skills and self-belief
Through her two-year intensive degree, Kylie has explored new aspects of performance, including voice acting, presenting and even ballet - something she never imagined doing.
“With it being a creative course, it’s helped my mental health massively,” she says. “I’ve done things I’d never have dreamed of - like ballet! Being the eldest person on the course, I walked into a room full of younger people and thought, ‘Right, I’m Kylie,’ and just went for it.”
Her studies have also had a positive impact on her family.
“My daughter helps me to rehearse my lines and absolutely loves it,” she says. “It’s great that my kids can see how hard I’m working - they’re learning that hard work really does pay off.”
Kylie says that a big part of everything she’s doing now is for her children, to show them what’s possible with hard work and determination.
“I’m doing this for my kids. Even if it means spending a little less time with them, I want them to see that working hard and never giving up can build a better life. I want them to grow up believing they can achieve anything, if they put their minds to it.”
Looking ahead
Now halfway through her degree, Kylie hopes to continue working in the acting and creative industries, and shares her dream of one day opening her own acting school - a place where she can help others who, like her, are looking to rebuild their confidence and find their voice through performance.
“I’d love to go into acting professionally and also work with community groups or adults looking to rebuild confidence,” she says. “Acting isn’t just about being on TV, it’s about expression, growth and connection.
Words of advice
“If I can do it as a single mum, anyone can,” Kylie says. “You’ve got to push yourself into the deep end - you end up smiling more, moving your body in ways you never thought you could. And the bonus? You get a degree, you grow as a person, and it helps your mental health.”