A student has swapped equations for centre stage after an "epiphany" led her to pursue a career in musical theatre.
Maya Jefferson, 20, from Slough, was head girl at her grammar school in Burnham and had planned to study maths at Oxford University, but her ambitions changed during sixth form.
Ms Jefferson said: "I decided there was no point pursuing money and success if it wasn’t going to make me happy, so I started looking at drama schools instead."
Though she had danced casually at a small local dance school in a church hall, a career in the performing arts had never seemed realistic.
That changed when she saw another dancer move on to Performers College in Essex, which helped her imagine a future in the industry.
After two unsuccessful auditions elsewhere, she approached the Performers College audition, giving it her all.
Ms Jefferson said: "I had four singing lessons in the lead up to the auditions and I was determined that I was going to knock it out the park.
"I gave it my all and they saw my potential."
Shortly after the dance portion of the audition, Ms Jefferson was offered a place at the college.
She said: "It was the start of a new part of my life that I didn’t think was going to happen.
"It was the best day of my life.
"I didn’t know how happy and content I could be in every aspect of life until I came here."
Now in her final year of a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree, she is making the most of industry workshops and sessions with casting directors and choreographers.
Ms Jefferson said: "We do workshop Wednesdays where someone from the industry comes in and teaches us.
"We’ve had casting directors from cruise ships to resident choreographers.
"The industry links and connections are amazing.
"We are shown so many exciting prospects and so many doors are open to us."
With a family background in dance – her mother was a dance teacher and her uncle performed with the Royal Ballet – performing runs in the family.
Ms Jefferson said: "At times, I still feel I’m in High School Musical.
"And the novelty hasn’t worn off.
"I feel very grateful to share this with everyone at Performers College."
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