Kyra's Story

From shaping minds on the ground to soaring through the skies.

After working for the NHS in the height of Covid, she found her way back to Chickenshed as part of the support and mentor team as well as taking on various admin responsibilities, which she continues to do alongside her full-time job as a flight attendant for British Airways.

Kyra's initial introduction to Chickenshed occurred when she was 15, during her GCSE years. 

She used to attend shows where her sister-in-law Molly, a Chickenshed graduate, performed. Instantly captivated by the atmosphere, Kyra knew she wanted to be part of the significant vision they both shared. 

After commencing her degree in Criminology, she made a pivotal shift in her educational journey, opting to pursue her passion for acting at Chickenshed. She successfully completed the Foundation Degree and subsequently earned her BA Hons, graduating in 2020.

I had to adapt to a whole new way of life, whilst still figuring out who I was as a person. I grew up in Enfield and studied at St. Anne’s, continuing on there for my A-Levels. I’d always had a passion for performing, but was quite a shy teenager so I never pursued it, thinking that dream of mine would soon end with my teenage years. 

After finishing my A-Levels I decided to pursue a degree in Criminology as I had, and still have, a passion to work with young people from all walks of life. Soon realising that this degree was mainly focusing on prosecution rather than rehabilitation, I decided to take a gap year to figure out what my next move was. 

Whilst on my gap year I worked as a carer for a young boy with Autism. My sister-in-law’s mum told me about Chickenshed’s Open Day and I thought why not, let’s give it a go. 

I found a home in Chickenshed - which I know sounds cliche, but after travelling all over the world for my job at BA, I can honestly say that Chickenshed is the one place where I feel truly happy and comfortable. When I walk into the building, whether it be after weeks or even months, I get the same buzz of excitement that I did when I first started as an FD 1 student in 2017. 

It gave me a purpose- not just in terms of performance but in terms of belonging to something much bigger than me, where I feel like my contribution is valued, listened to and appreciated. The skills that I picked up throughout my time as a student are the sole reason why I am able to do the job that I do at British Airways.

Meeting new people every time I fly, whether this be other colleagues or passengers, means that I am always in situations with such a diverse range of individuals and I thank Chickenshed for giving me the confidence and skills to be able to embark on the exciting adventures of seeing the world.