A blend of talent and hard work rounded off by a pleasing personality are the ingredients for success.
This is what Varuni Jayasekara has been teaching children for the past 30 years.
Last year however, had been particularly special for her, with over 100 children under her tutelage winning awards at competitions held by the prestigious Trinity College in London.
As many as 80 of the students bagged awards for Spoken English in March last year while 24 were awarded prizes for Speech and Drama two months later.
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| Varuni Jayasekera with the successful diploma holders. |
“It is harder to crack the speech and drama competition held by Trinity College compared to the one for Spoken English as prizes are awarded in accordance with the marks obtained rather than on the grades scored,” says Mrs. Jayasekara, who can justifiably be satisfied as all top three prizes for Speech and Drama were won by her students.
The outstanding achievements included Gimara Goonewardena being the only Licentiate prize winner for the Speech and Drama competition in the whole country, and Kiyara Fernando and Nicola De Zoysa being awarded the Polytechnic trophy for winning prizes from Trinity College for three consecutive years. This year both Kiyara and Nicola were Individual Acting Skill prize winners while Nicola was also Associate Public Speaking runner-up.
Apart from the Trinity College competitions she says her students also take part and excel in many other speech and drama competitions organized by their own schools.
It was about 10 years ago that she set up the Varuni Jayasekara Academy of Speech, Drama and Communication after previously teaching children drama at her home. The teachers at her academy, who are her former students, are handpicked by her. “They are Sri Lankans, but all London-qualified,” Mrs. Jayasekera adds.
Varuni developed her love for drama as a child. “I feel that by acting in plays, one can overcome inhibitions. This can help develop communication skills and also one’s personality,” she reveals.
The certificates and diplomas that her students win are an added bonus when applying for higher studies in prestigious institutions or for jobs.
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| Varuni Jayasekera |
“These students are viewed differently at interviews,” she says commending the local representative of Trinity Guildhall, Ramola Sivasundaram, for providing opportunities for Sri Lankans to sit these examinations.
Certificates and diplomas apart, for Mrs. Jayasekera, fulfillment comes when she sees her students transform while training. “Timid and shy children change gradually. They improve their communication skills and become more confident.”
“Presentations, for instance, are integral for their studies and my students find it easier to cope with them when they go abroad for their studies as they are already trained,” says Mrs. Jayasekera who is also executive director of the local examining body, Colombo Academy of Language skills and Dramatic Art, which conducts examinations across the country and grants diplomas.
To whom does she attribute the success of her students and career to? “To God,” she answers simply and smiles. |
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