About Me
Marianne — Coach | Educator | Advocate for Young People’s Wellbeing
My name is Marianne. I have a background in life coaching, wellbeing, mental health and education. In addition to teaching overseas in my 20s (Barcelona and Buenos Aires), I have worked in education in the UK for almost two decades.
I first founded Being Best in 2007, initially to coach adults. Years later, having re-entered the world of education, my experience, passion and interests have evolved, and I now work exclusively with young people, particularly teenagers.
Looking back on my own teenage years at school, I remember that I was quick to give up, easily discouraged, and daunted by the prospect of being seen as stupid or ignorant. I hated the thought that I was being judged. Throughout those years I can only think of one teacher who drew me out of myself and treated me with kindness and respect. Reflecting on that now, it’s no surprise to me that I did well in her subject.
Education has evolved dramatically, and it's a positive sign that many students now feel inspired and respected by their teachers. Despite this progress, it’s also true that not every child is able to advocate for themselves, nor do we all have the same access to quality education. Even for those who are educated in small classroom sizes with excellent teachers, there can be gaps, a fear of failure and missed opportunities.
What a difference it makes to have a plan and somebody behind you who wants you to succeed! I know from my own experience of not feeling supported or inspired at school, that this can lead to a negative attitude towards learning. I was both afraid and dismissive of school, so I rejected it as unimportant and boring and it was only years later, when I was living in Spain, that I came to value the experience and realised how rewarding it could be, both to learn and to teach.
Underqualified, I returned to the UK to study at night school whilst working during the day. At that point, I was lucky enough to meet two wonderful people who mentored and supported me throughout the A-level journey. 18 months later they encouraged me to set my goals high, and so off I went to university. I loved it, especially studying the things I was interested in and meeting like-minded people … it was life changing for me and for the first time I felt grounded and confident. What a difference it can make if someone shares your journey, backs you when you wobble and mentors you throughout.
