🌌 From Astrophysics to Tap Shoes: Why You Don’t Need to Stick to One Path

Let me start with this: My worst GCSE was English Language. I was absolutely convinced this meant I was terrible at writing.

End of story. (Spoiler: not end of story.)

🚀 The science kid who loved jazz hands

Growing up, I was that kid who loved everything. Musical theatre? YES. Dancing? Especially tap! Singing? I was all in. But also… I loved maths and science. I was the one who actually enjoyed algebra. And when I wasn’t on stage, I was watching the latest Sci Fi series, or obsessing over Star Wars. (Still am. Give me a lightsaber any day.)

I have always been drawn to the big and the epic! Whether it’s galaxies or a 60 person dance break in the middle of a show.

🎓 Astrophysics (with jazz hands on the side)

So I went to UCL to study astrophysics. Because honestly? Space is fascinating. Numbers make sense. I love how maths fits the universe together. Buuuut, here’s the funny bit: I actually spent most of my time during university prancing around in the musical theatre society. Acting, choreographing, singing, president-ing. And then, every year, about two months before my exams, I panicked and did what any sensible person would do and I crammed everything there is to know about stars into my brain at lightning speed.

I passed (with a 2:1 BSc Hons)! Woooo!

But then, I wasn’t sure what to do next… Perform? Become an astronaut? Ooooor, make some money…

💼 The finance detour

I tried finance. I thought maybe an analytical role in the marketing department would let me flex some creativity, crunch some numbers and hopefully make the big bucks. Turns out, not so much in a big corporation. It was fine. But it absolutely wasn’t me. There was no freedom to tell stories, no space to dance (literally or metaphorically). And I realised: as a creative, when I’m not doing what I love, I feel trapped.

🎭 Back to the stage

So I went all-in. I trained in musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music. Got a master’s. But here’s the honest part and a little problemo in my plan: anxiety often got in the way of being able to perform. That’s when I realised: I don’t have to be the one on stage. I can be the one helping to shape the story. I became a director, a choreographer and performing arts teacher. I especially loved working on new musicals — helping ideas grow into something magical.

👶 The plot twist: motherhood

Then I had a little girl. And let’s just say, working theatre hours and travelling all over the place wasn’t going to fit with my new chapter. So, book-writing Becky was born.

At first I thought — but hang on, I can’t be a writer! English language was my worst GCSE! Now I know: a mark on a paper doesn’t decide your future. I’ve been writing women’s fiction and fantasy for a while (not published yet — but soon, I hope!). And in the meantime? I’ve been bursting with ideas for children’s books, inspired by life with my little adventurer.

💡 What I’d tell my younger self

Hindsight’s a funny thing. I could list a hundred choices I’d make differently. But who knows where those choice would or wouldn’t have led. So I don’t think it’s about the choices, it’s about what you do with them.

I’d tell younger me:

👉 Don’t stress about picking a lane.

👉 Be brave, be bold, go full guns blazing at the things you love.

👉 Don’t worry about what people think.

👉 Don’t be afraid of mistakes.

👉 Just go for it.

Because paths aren’t straight lines. Sometimes they’re spirals, zigzags, loops, and tap dance steps across the stars.

🌟 The moral of the story?

You don’t have to stick to one path. You don’t have to fit in a box. But I do think you should love what you do. Life isn’t a straight road — it’s a cosmic tap routine, full of stumbles, shuffles, and unexpected star jumps. Just make sure you’re wearing shoes that let you dance your own way.