Mairi Evans
Q. Your name?
Mairi Evans
Q. Your school?
Kilgraston School
Q. Your current occupation?
Councillor for Angus Council
Q. Your favourite subject at school?
History
Q. Your best and worst memory of your school days?
Worst – the initial homesickness I felt when I first started boarding. But the memories were very nearly all good after I settled in!
Best – performing as the Pharoah in the school production of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat (I was a big Elvis fan), and the day I became Head Girl.
Q. What or who inspired you to follow your career?
My family, particularly my grandmother, definitely inspired me, they were always politically active and that is where my interest in politics was fostered. Though it was when devolution was granted in Scotland and after I met the then leader of the SNP John Swinney, that I knew I had to be more directly involved. Then when the opportunity arose to stand for election for Angus Council, I took it!
Q. What do you feel you gained by attending a girls’ only school?
Confidence and motivation. The fact that my classes were small and single sex meant that it was easy to learn, and almost impossible not to get involved and share ideas.
Q. Any advice for parents choosing a school for their daughter?
I think that the school ethos is the most important aspect, especially if a child is boarding at school. Parents must be sure their daughter is growing and living in an atmosphere conducive to her educational and general development. Secondly, I would focus on the class size. I feel the small class sizes I had meant that each student developed a rapport with the teaching staff and were more confident and encouraged to learn as a result.
Q. Any advice for girls planning their university and/or career choices?
Follow your passions and apply your talents in your chosen area- you can always work hard at something, but it is only when you are truly passionate and believe in it that you will feel happy and fulfilled.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
The experience was so memorable and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I have not met a single person since leaving school who actually seems to miss it like my friends and I do. The fact that I am still in regular contact with many of my classmates and my teachers is testament to the amazing experience I had throughout my six years at Kilgraston and I sincerely hope I can offer the same opportunities to my own children should I have a family of my own.
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