Kilmarnock Academy English Department

English

Some Thoughts and Inspiration

Think about it!

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."
-- John Powell

" Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too, can become great."
--Mark Twain

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools."
--Unknown

"I won't say ours was a tough school, but we had our own coroner. We used to write essays like: What I'm going to be if I grow up."
Lenny Bruce .

On Education....

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
--Will Durant

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education
--Mark Twain

Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
--Malcolm Forbes

Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then...do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen.
--Lee Iacocca

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
--William Butler Yeats

FAMOUS FORMER PUPILS

Many former Kilmarnock Academy pupils have gone on to be very successful. Their stories should provide you with inspiration, ideas and belief. Click here.

Enterprising People

by Mr S Sutton

Thanks to a member of the English Department we have a new regular feature on KA Web. Mr Sutton - who is himself quite an enterprising
individual - has created a series of articles on Enterprising People. His
intention was only to use the articles with third year English classes but I managed to persuade him that they would also be of real interest to other people, especially members of pub quiz teams and generally "nosey folk". He has covered a wide range of enterprising people, some
less well-known than others. Part of Mr Sutton's thinking in creating
this series for KA Web was to let pupils see how having an enterprising
attitude and a positive outlook can increase your chances of achieving
success and personal fulfilment. Thanks again to Mr Sutton. N.McI 3.1.2011

J. K. Rowling
Billy Connolly
Mother Teresa

To be Added:

Paul McCartney
Susan Boyle
Sir Alexander Fleming
Coco Chanel
Barack Obama
Dorothy Paul
Arthur Conan Doyle

plus 10 more

Enterprising: (adjective). Showing initiative and willingness to undertake new projects.

Some Former K.A. Philosophers


"Every experience, every conversation and every book we read is like a cool breeze, filling our sails and driving us ever closer to that farthest shore of the Isle of Brainy. " Dr Neilson (Former Librarian)	"Our quest in life is the pursuit of 'brainyness'. If we eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge and work hard, then one day we will catch it . . . and give it a doin'." J.K and K.J (S3 2005)

*"You can simply let the future carry you forth like a leaf on a swollen river - or you can grasp it and shape it.* Only you can decide what lies beyond your horizon in the sea of life." Skoda (S3 2005)	"Embrace the lessons of Nature. Like the squirrel gathers nuts to prepare for difficult times ahead, so the student must store up knowledge to be prepared for the empty crisp bags that life casts before us." Ian the janny (is Nutz) and still with us!

e-mail : english@kilmarnockacademy.co.uk tel: 01563 525509

N. McIlvanney 2011