Georgia Billington graduated with our Flinders Class of 2021, and recently completed her studies at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, a dream opportunity!
We asked Georgia to share her latest news, along with some sage advice and reflections.
We are sure our students at Matthew Flinders Anglican College will be inspired by this story of effort, creativity and determination!
Georgia, what does life look like for you now?
Life for me now looks extremely different than I ever thought it could be. I am living in Brooklyn, New York and have recently finished my studies at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts! I have just returned from the National Tour of “Twas a Girl’s Night Before Christmas” where I got the opportunity to travel all over the United States and perform to audiences in incredible, historical theatres! I am also currently rehearsing for my off-Broadway debut, in a show titled, “Local Singles”. I have been cast as a swing, which means I will be understudying all of the female roles in the cast, a challenge which is very new to me, but one that I am certainly ready for. I now live in a cute little duplex with three roommates, as well as a fish and a snail, and spend my spare time at F45 gym and exploring the city!
What was your favourite Flinders moment?
My favourite Flinders moment would have to be Year 10 sailing camp. That was one of the best experiences at Flinders for me. It helped me decompress from everyday challenges, and allowed me to reconnect with my love for nature and animals!
Do you have a particular role model or inspirational figure from Flinders or now?
One of my role models at the moment is Phillipa Soo. She is a New York-based performer who has accomplished a lot at a very young age. Her accomplishments are similar to my current goals, and her success allows me to see the possibilities of my career. A fun fact: I used to live near her when I was in college, and saw her a few times on the street. Still kicking myself for not saying anything!
How easy was it to decide what to do in life?
Very hard! The funny thing is that in this career, especially in the US, most people decided they wanted to be a performer when they were about 10 years old. They have been in dance classes since they could walk, and have been to the Jimmy Awards and went to performing arts high schools. They have been working on their craft for a long time.
In my situation, the funny thing is that I decided about two months before I graduated from Flinders that I wanted to do this as a career. And while it has certainly provided some disadvantages for me as I enter the industry, it also allows me to have such a beautiful, fresh perspective on the career, as I am grounded in my passion, and I know that I have to work extremely hard to get to where I want to be.
I originally wanted to be a veterinarian, then an emergency medical technician and then considered being an event planner. It felt like a lot of pressure to know exactly what you wanted to do for the rest of your life by the time you finished high school! And I am still learning! Who knows what I’ll be doing in 10 years; all that matters right now is that my career is the thing that I love to do most in this world, and that I am willing to work harder than I ever have before to get it.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you planned?
Nope! Funnily enough, plans aren’t great in this career! When I graduated high school, I had my sights set on studying Musical Theatre at Griffith University (The Con), and I didn’t get in! Little did I know that was the biggest blessing I could have ever received. I ended up taking a gap year, and got the chance to perform in the World Championships for Performing Arts as part of Team Australia. There, I won a recording contract, a few scholarships and a LOT of knowledge.
During my gap year, I randomly applied for a scholarship on a casting website, thinking, imagine if I went to New York! And after a whirlwind of change, here I am today, doing things that I could have never imagined in my wildest dreams. So it didn’t go as planned, but it reminded me that everything happens for a reason, and that everything that is meant for you will find you, as long as you work hard and never give up.
What advice do you have for current students?
1. Remember that graduating school isn’t where your life stops. Getting into your dream university isn’t the be all... (although it may feel like it at the time!). There is so much more out there for you that you haven’t had the chance to experience yet.
3. If you don’t know what to do, that’s ok! Take time to travel, experience different cultures and allow yourself to grow.
4. Work hard for the things you want. You aren’t going to get anywhere by sitting around expecting things to just happen for you.
5. Remember that your career isn’t everything. There is so much more to you than what you do for work. Start to learn who you are outside of your achievements.
Georgia shares more of her career journey on her website, www.georgiabillington.com
To read more of our inspiring Beyond Flinders profiles, visit here.
