(CNN) -- The year is 1969 and Britain is at the peak of its counter-culture revolution -- a time of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. The Beatles are putting together their final album while a relatively unknown musician, David Bowie is making waves with his track "Space Oddity." 

Meanwhile, in Liverpool, a 15-year-old schoolgirl is headed for trouble. 

Though academically gifted, Jude Kelly is bored at school and overcome with a mix of teenage angst and a vivid imagination. She's beginning to hang around with a rough crowd and soon finds herself in trouble with the law. But one person has taken notice of her downward spiral -- her high school principal. 

"The headmaster said to me, 'I don't care if you do maths or biology or whatever, it doesn't matter ... but make sure that you use your imagination for creative good rather than self-destruction'," recalls Kelly. 

Fast forward several decades and she's done just that. Today Kelly, 59, is the artistic director of Britain's beloved cultural institution -- London's Southbank Centre. 

Looking back, it's clear how defining that very moment was. 

"As soon as he said it, I knew he was right -- I feel very strongly that young people deserve help, time, space and permission to be expressive." 

His advice spurred Kelly to form a drama club with her fellow classmates including Clive Barker, the now bestselling British horror author, and comedian Les Dennis. 

After high school, her passion for the arts continued to flourish. Studying Drama at Birmingham University, she decided to become a director. It was a bold career choice for women in the 1970s -- but by age 22, she defied naysayers by becoming one of the youngest artistic directors in the country. 
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1969
The year is 1969 and Britain is at the peak of its counter-culture revolution -- a time of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
David Bowie
David Bowie is making waves with his track "Space Oddity." 

her high school principal.
 taken notice of her downward spiral -- her high school principal. 

15
15-year-old schoolgirl is headed for trouble. 

Though academically gifted, Jude Kelly is bored at school and overcome with a mix of teenage angst and a vivid imagination. 
artistic director
 Today Kelly, 59, is the artistic director of Britain's beloved cultural institution 
Clive Barker
 fellow classmates including Clive Barker,
'I don't care if you do maths or biology or whatever, it doesn't matter ... but make sure that you use your imagination for creative good rather than self-destruction'
 'I don't care if you do maths or biology or whatever, it doesn't matter ... but make sure that you use your imagination for creative good rather than self-destruction',"
Les Dennis
and comedian Les Dennis. 
naysayers
but by age 22, she defied naysayers
their final album while
The Beatles are putting together their final album while