From A to F: Stars at school

As we start back at school, let’s hear a few inspirational words and school memories from our favourite stars

When it comes to life lessons, celebrities aren’t always the best role models, we’ll freely admit. (Britney Spears, sorry, but we’re looking at you.)

But it always pays to remember that quite often, the famous people we read about every day in tabloid! are simply humans who looked better, worked harder, sold more and followed their dream. And whether that dream is to sell lip kits or make movies you’ll never forget, who are we to judge?

Sometimes they stumbled, sometimes they failed and sometimes they were bullied. As we start back at school, let’s hear a few inspirational words and school memories from our favourite stars, perfect for sticking to your mirror or turning into a meme with your choice of sunrise/waterfall in the background.

“I dreamed of being on a stage. But it was a difficult part of my life. I suffered bullying. I did not fit anywhere. I was ambitious, I made a great effort, I respected teachers and rules,” Victoria Beckham has said. She also told Elle, “people would push me around, say they were going to beat me up after school, chase me. It was miserable, my whole schooling, miserable”.

“I’ve never had issues with popularity. I was always a popular guy... I’ve always has friends and loved ones and everything, so it wasn’t like, ‘Oh man, I gotta fill some void that was left there by high school.’ I had a great experience.” — Jonah Hill to AV Club

“I was class president, on the cheerleading squad, in a competitive show choir, and in, like, six different clubs.” Blake Lively told Cosmopolitan.

“Matt [Damon] was definitely more… of a kind of achiever. It was inconceivable to him that you wouldn’t get an ‘A’ or do really well. So I did really well my first two years in high school and then when Matt left, I would cut class and… get in all kinds of trouble.” Ben Affleck told ABC. He says a compliment from his drama teacher helped him later on, as he struggled with acting. “I had looked up to him and I really admired him, but I was really rebellious. And he said ‘if you want to do this… I think you could be successful and you should try it.’”

“It’s cool to be a nerd. There’s a general understanding that smartphones didn’t come from jocks. The digital age was foreseen by a group of short-sleeved... guys and their female equivalents designing the very stuff that’s now ubiquitous.” J.J. Abrams.

“Success is the best revenge for anything. Keep ya head down and work hard to achieve.” Ed Sheeran, on Twitter.

“I think people sometimes don’t pay enough attention to what they do. I’ve done well, but the reason is ... simple: I’ve worked my [expletive] off. The toughest thing a performer can do is make it look as if it comes easy,” Justin Timberlake, in 2011.

“When I was 16, I was very frustrated all the time. I felt like nobody understood me... School was stressful, working was stressful, and it’s a really tough time for girls to be friends... I felt like I was always in a rush to get somewhere when I had no idea where that was.” Emma Roberts ,to Seventeen magazine.