--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my…" description: "\"I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my disruptive ways in the classroom. The next Saturda..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/david-wenham-20100_acting_i-was-11-when-a-teacher-suggested-to-my_2331219.jpg" --- # I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they… ![“I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my disruptive ways in the classroom. The next Saturday I was acting, and thereafter it became a ritual of my youth to see a show at the Belvoir on Sundays and, if I was lucky, another at the Opera…” quote by David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/david-wenham-20100_acting_i-was-11-when-a-teacher-suggested-to-my_2331219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/david-wenham-20100_acting_i-was-11-when-a-teacher-suggested-to-my_2331219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/david-wenham-20100_acting_i-was-11-when-a-teacher-suggested-to-my_2331219.jpg) > “I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my disruptive ways in the classroom. The next Saturday I was acting, and thereafter it became a ritual of my youth to see a show at the Belvoir on Sundays and, if I was lucky, another at the Opera House on Monday after school.” [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A teacher's suggestion led the speaker to drama, which became a formative ritual of attending performances and shaping his youth. **In simple terms:** Drama classes changed a disruptive child into a theater enthusiast. Key Takeaway Explore arts to channel energy. Themes growth creativity discipline community identity Mood inspired reflective Type personal narrative educational When to use this quote - school - after‑school programs - family support - local theater attendance Key Concepts Performing arts education personal development cultural exposure Questions to Reflect On - How can schools identify hidden talents? - What role does community theater play in youth development? A Different Perspective May not work for every child; access to arts varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [After school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after-school/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Classroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classroom/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday/) [Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera/) [Opera house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera-house/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual/) [Saturday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunday/) [Sundays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sundays/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thereafter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thereafter/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I really enjoyed drama classes at school, but I left at 16 and started writing a musical with my brother. Because of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-hope-fletcher/well-i-really-enjoyed-drama-classes-at-school-but-i-left-at-16-and/) [Carrie Hope Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-hope-fletcher/) > [I started performing at school and drama classes when I was 7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delta-goodrem/i-started-performing-at-school-and-drama-classes-when-i-was-7/) [Delta Goodrem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delta-goodrem/) > [My mum put me in drama classes when I was about 14. I'd been going on about it for some time, so maybe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/my-mum-put-me-in-drama-classes-when-i-was-about-14-i-d-been-going-on/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [I've always been pretty reserved, but after taking drama classes in middle school to get more comfortable performing in front of people, I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-ve-always-been-pretty-reserved-but-after-taking-drama-classes-in/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I did 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Seussical.' From there I took drama classes. And then from about 15, there was not much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-did-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-and-seussical-from-there-i/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [I was acting since I was a kid, going to drama classes and being involved in every school play and musical that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/i-was-acting-since-i-was-a-kid-going-to-drama-classes-and-being/) [Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/) > [As a kid, before I got into music, I did all the drama classes, went to theater camp in the summers, so it wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/as-a-kid-before-i-got-into-music-i-did-all-the-drama-classes-went-to/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [Mum got me involved in every activity under the sun - singing, dancing and drama classes at the Anna Scher theatre school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/mum-got-me-involved-in-every-activity-under-the-sun-singing-dancing/) [Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/) > [Once I started taking drama classes, I asked myself why I had ever wasted so much time on a football team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/once-i-started-taking-drama-classes-i-asked-myself-why-i-had-ever/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [My parents thought if they put me in drama classes, I might come out of my shell. It worked, and I've acted ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samara-weaving/my-parents-thought-if-they-put-me-in-drama-classes-i-might-come-out/) [Samara Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samara-weaving/) > [Someone told me about drama schools, and they seemed like mythological places - you can really go and be in drama classes all day?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-moran/someone-told-me-about-drama-schools-and-they-seemed-like-mythological/) [Nick Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-moran/) > [I'm taking drama classes, they say I'm a natural actress. I think it's just because I talk a lot. I'm also learning how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-pagano/i-m-taking-drama-classes-they-say-i-m-a-natural-actress-i-think-it-s/) Lindsay Pagano > [I was a hyper kid in school and the teacher suggested to my mom she needed to do something with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-sawa/i-was-a-hyper-kid-in-school-and-the-teacher-suggested-to-my-mom-she/) [Devon Sawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-sawa/) > [I had not grown up on theater - in Hughes, Ark., you went to see a movie on Saturday. So my acting heroes were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beck/i-had-not-grown-up-on-theater-in-hughes-ark-you-went-to-see-a-movie/) [Michael Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beck/) > [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More by David Wenham > [I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-always-loved-putting-on-shows-when-you-re-the-youngest-of-seven-and/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [My life at the moment is a bit like my wardrobe. Organised chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/my-life-at-the-moment-is-a-bit-like-my-wardrobe-organised-chaos/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I used to do impersonations: Harry Butler in the wild, or I'd do Gough Whitlam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-used-to-do-impersonations-harry-butler-in-the-wild-or-i-d-do-gough/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [Listening and hearing are two different things, and acting is comprehending what the person is saying, thinking how it makes you feel and responding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/listening-and-hearing-are-two-different-things-and-acting-is/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I'm becoming a frustrated director, I think, in an actor's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-m-becoming-a-frustrated-director-i-think-in-an-actor-s-body/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [In all honesty, if somebody asked me the secret of auditioning for Americans, I don't know. Often, I do what's called self-taping for America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/in-all-honesty-if-somebody-asked-me-the-secret-of-auditioning-for/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [My life at the moment is a bit like my wardrobe. Organized chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/my-life-at-the-moment-is-a-bit-like-my-wardrobe-organized-chaos/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [As we mature and grow older we collect a lot of baggage, and a lot of that stuff you collect on life's journey gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/as-we-mature-and-grow-older-we-collect-a-lot-of-baggage-and-a-lot-of/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [Some people have heard of The Method, which originally goes back to Stanislavski... he gave you six major pointers whereby you became that character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/some-people-have-heard-of-the-method-which-originally-goes-back-to/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [People who have never done theatre before, and have only worked in front of a camera, would find it very difficult, I think, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/people-who-have-never-done-theatre-before-and-have-only-worked-in/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I'd love to work with the people who really got the film industry going again through the '70s: Peter Weir, Bruce Beresford, Gillian Armstrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-d-love-to-work-with-the-people-who-really-got-the-film-industry/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I've ended up spending more time in front of a camera than on stage, but the stage is where I come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-ve-ended-up-spending-more-time-in-front-of-a-camera-than-on-stage/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [Some people would say I've made it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/some-people-would-say-i-ve-made-it-now/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [There's different ways of getting into character. There's what's called 'the outside,' in which is finding the physicality of the character first. To give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/there-s-different-ways-of-getting-into-character-there-s-what-s/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [You can't manufacture a career as an actor because you aren't in control of what projects come to you, unless you are No. 1,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/you-can-t-manufacture-a-career-as-an-actor-because-you-aren-t-in/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) [Explore all 31 David Wenham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my disruptive ways in the classroom. 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