Self Introduction by Leo, G8, Harrow School, England

Leo took Writing, Publishing, Presenting, BELLA, Classical Studies, Acting and Speech, and Advanced Literature courses at Studio, and in the summers of 2015 and 2016 participated in The Story of England and The Ancient World study tours. In 2017, he is enrolled for Fire and Ice. He is an inaugural member of The Edinburgh Society. 

An introduction by James Jobbins

I met Leo when he was in third grade. He was clever and pleasant back then - whether it was debating history or writing video games in computer science. But I didn't quite imagine he would become such an accomplished actor and writer (not to mention a top mathematician who just won his year group maths prize at his top British independent school). Leo's acting was nurtured carefully at Studio, inspiring a passion that lasts to this day. His writing too - especially his creative writing - also went from strength to strength. 

What follows is the most touching poem, an astonishingly mature example of parody-whimsy and self-depreciation. 

The tone reminded me of a piece I wrote as a teenager, that I have never forgotten, about being in love and imagining taking my beloved to the park for a picnic ("The birds would sing our love joyfully!" "I will persuade my brother to buy us some champagne!"). It was light, fun, whimsical and self-deprecating. I had such a good time sending myself up. 

When Leo was asked to write a self-introduction for a famous British boarding school, hundreds of years old and alma mater to Prime Ministers and Princes, he faced that same conundrum that every applicant faces: how to brook self-promotion and humility? The answer below is pitch-perfect: hilarious in its parody of a self-introduction written with a view to self-promote ("Paris, Tibet, Phew!") and so touching in its childlike enthusiasm (“England left a nice impression”).

Being able to cut through the artificiality of a schools admissions process is quite a feat. The admissions don – or ‘beak’ as they call them at Harrow – who received this would have been crying out to meet the poet, whose wit and good humour shine through.

What’s my point with this paean? My point most certainly is not that every child should try to write a parody-poem as a self-introduction. My point is that authenticity is all. Children need help to prepare to bring verve and enthusiasm to these human interactions, both to written application statements and at interview. What they do not need is training to perform a certain way.

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The poem was written when Leo was in G7 in Shanghai.

My name is Leo, that’s for sure,

I hope you’d like to learn much more!

I was born on November three,

Likes to hang out when I am free.

 

A shelf of fiction I have read,

A worthy novel’s what I plead.

Gulliver’s Travels, Tolkien’s King,

Trilogy based on one fat ring?

 

Some years ago, the spelling bee,

Became the only thing I see.

I lost you see, my brain was strained,

Experience was just full of pain.

 

Top of Grade six in maths contest,

But no one tells me I’m the best…

My current school is nice and fun,

Hope my parents can have one great son.

 

One proud traveler that is me,

Visited places you should see.

Europe, Asia and America

Paris, Tibet, Phew! Sri Lanka!

 

I whack a tennis ball across,

Not playing tennis is a loss!

Major Walter Clapton Wingfield—

Think he invented game and court.

 

Writing, drama, karate too,

I hear you in your office yell—

Is there nothing this kid can't do!

Hmmm, well, my cookies won’t sell!

 

History, science, geography,

Wouldn’t get a C, B or D.

English, music, maths and IT,

There will be no bad scores you can see.

 

I lately joined a summer school,

Churches, colleges, swimming pools.

England made a nice impression,

So, I’m here for some profession.

 

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