Alumni Spotlight: Lily Cowan '22

In this week's edition of "Alumni Spotlight," Alumni and Community Engagement, chats with Lily Cowan ’22, a WPGA “lifer” who now lives in London, UK following graduation from the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts. Lily updates us on her postsecondary path, the skills, people and experiences at WPGA that most influenced her, and her advice to current students on making the best of their WPGA experience.
 

KH: What year did you graduate from WPGA? What grade did you join WPGA?
LC: I graduated in 2022, and I joined WPGA in JK.

KH: What are you up to now—personally and professionally?
LC: Having just graduated from LIPA (The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts), I am now working as a production assistant in Visual Effects for an upcoming Warner Brothers feature film.

KH: What universities/colleges did you apply to and where did you choose to go? Why?
LC: I applied to five schools in the UK: Royal Holloway, Regent College, York University, the University of the Creative Arts, and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Originally, I applied to LIPA on a whim as I needed a fifth school to take advantage of UCAS, and Dr. McDowell had mentioned it once, so I applied without truly knowing anything about it. After my interview and acceptance, I went to visit all the schools, and that’s when I fell in love with LIPA. It felt like walking into a scene from FAME! It has an incredible film program, and the idea of being surrounded by other people in the arts was exciting.

KH: How did your time at WPGA prepare you for your university experience, career and current role?
LC: Taking film at WPGA helped me find my passion for my current career field. Having teachers who were so down-to-earth and willing to truly get to know you taught me a level of respect and professionalism that I’ve carried through university and into employment.

KH: What skills learned at WPGA have been the most valuable in your journey?
LC: You see on TV all the time kids in high school finding their cliques. In my experience, high school wasn’t so different at times. I felt like I was in a box of drama and film and sort of feared anything far from that. For example, I told everyone around me, including myself, that I was terrible at math and hated it. Mind you, that was sometimes true, but flash forward to grade 12 and math with Mr. Ito became one of my favourite classes that year.

It’s so easy to do the expected and be what people think you are—or what you limit yourself to be—but something I learned at WPGA is not to count myself out of anything just because it’s not what’s expected of me or what I expect of myself.

KH: Can you share your favourite WPGA memory and what made it special?
LC: In grade 11, Scarlett Sparrow Felix ’22 and I created a film project called The Smile Project, which was all about seeing people’s smiles after the pandemic and asking the question, “What makes you smile?” We put so much work into it, and I remember it being screened to the school. The positive reception from staff and peers was overwhelming. It was the first time I felt like I had created something that meant more than just an assignment.

KH: What teams or extracurricular activities did you participate in at WPGA?
LC: The three extracurriculars I really remember were being on the Arts Council for all of high school, being on the Destination Imagination improv team, and being part of all the school theatre productions.

KH: What WPGA teacher(s) influenced you and in what ways?
LC: I had so many influential teachers. Every homeroom teacher I ever had in Junior School to every teacher in Senior School—I learned so much from all of them. But Mr. McCauley truly influenced my decision to join film. Whenever I needed a safe space, the door to the film room was always open. Mac let me be me when I didn’t feel like being myself was good enough. He taught me a strong work ethic, how to work with others, and to just “make it so.” I actually ended up getting it tattooed on my wrist before I left for university to remind myself of everything he taught me.

KH: What House were you in?
LC: I was Hemlock (which is clearly the best house).

KH: What advice would you give current students to make the most of their WPGA experience?
LC: Make your own path. It’s so easy to get swept up in what everyone else is doing, but you’ll get the most out of your experience if you do the things you want to do, no matter what anyone thinks. I also think you should lean on your teachers. Having left WPGA, I definitely didn’t realize how lucky I was to have teachers who were so supportive, and when they offer you help, I recommend taking it.

KH: How would you describe WPGA in three words?
LC: Memorable. Community. Rewarding.

KH: Fun fact about yourself?
LC: I played a dead zombie child in IT: Chapter 2.

KH: What are you most proud of since graduating from WPGA?
LC: Moving to the UK. When I graduated, I moved there not knowing anyone or truly knowing what I was getting myself into. I went to the same school for 14 years and had never left home, so it was a huge risk, but it has definitely paid off.

KH: What is your greatest wish for WPGA in the next 30 years?
LC: Honestly, just keep doing what it’s doing. I was there so long, and I had the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I grew up at WPGA, and I know it helped shape who I am today, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.