“But this wasn’t where I wanted to go,” Alish said.

“I always wanted to do construction but my woodwork class was cancelled so I ended up studying ancient history which I didn’t like, so I sat in on an entertainment class.”

Fast forward about a year and the determined Telarah native is now one of 12 young Australians studying technical production at the highly prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in the class of 2015.

“Oh goodness. Where to start?” Alish said when asked about her foray into the world of entertainment.

“I remember getting the phone call (from NIDA) because I missed it. 

“So I called the head of the department and he told me I was in. I thought he must have called the wrong person.

“It was a weird day.”

Now living in Sydney, the former Maitland Grossmann High School student studies at least nine hours a day five days a week.

She has worked on events including the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, rubbed shoulders with entertainers Nick Jonas, Dannii Minogue and Jessica Mauboy and is developing an intense love for a process she describes as magic.

“It was very daunting, but it’s amazing,” she said.

“Production is such an interesting way to show a different side of stories. 

“Because it is ­storytelling and we can do all these amazing things that the audience doesn’t know about, I find it really 

interesting to explore those areas.”

Widely known for its famous alumni graduates including Baz Luhrmann and Cate Blanchett, NIDA’s behind-the-scenes graduates are snapped up by the industry even more eagerly than the actors.

“I’ve never wanted to be on stage,” Alish, 18, said.

“Production just intrigues me more because it’s a different aspect and I’m not really one to stand in the limelight.

“Besides it’s just really interesting to see how the back of the whole glamorous shazam works.

“It blows my mind every time. But unfortunately now I have the curse of every time I go to theatre I analyse everything.”

When her course wraps up in three years, Alish said she will go wherever she needs to be.

“As for after NIDA . . . I’m happy to work anywhere. I just want to try as many things as I can. Hopefully I’ll get to travel with my work, that would be amazing,” she said

“I’d love to start up new and amazing concepts and turn them into shows.

“That’s where I want to go, down that contemporary path. 

“I want to work on productions and make them big, turn them into nationally recognised shows.”

While Alish’s mother, Kristin, isn’t entirely shocked at her daughter’s ambition she is a little surprised at its momentum.

“Alish is very determined and always has been,” Kristin said.

“I fully expected her to leave home after finishing school to be honest. 

“I just knew that she would fly. 

“I just didn’t realise she would fly quite so high straight away.

“But it’s good to see her really passionate about something, especially as young as she is.”

And, for the moment at least, Alish continues to pinch herself.

“Some days it just doesn’t feel real,” she said.

“I panicked in Year 10. 

“I thought I had my life set out and now I’m here and I don’t think I could have been happier.

“Some days I just don’t believe I am doing the thing I love the most.”