‘One of the coolest things that’s ever happened’: SA teacher looks back on students’ surprise 1D flash mob

Like many around the world, Liam Payne’s shock death left this huge SA 1D fan reeling. But an amazing memory from the band’s Australian tour is helping ease the pain.

Having spent over a decade as an educator, Jessica’s career has been filled with many special moments.

And while it’s hard to choose a favourite, the time her students surprised her with a One Direction-inspired flash mob for her birthday in 2015 will always hold a special place in her heart.

“Still to this day, it’s one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me,” the former Yorketown Area School teacher said.

“It was truly like something out of a film … I was asking myself ‘is this real?’ because I’m at the front of assembly receiving an award for the Best Home Group attendance and then the music started playing.

“And then I turn around and out comes my colleagues with (1D) masks on and then they started dancing, and then I turned back around and saw other students dancing and then one of my students came out with a cow mask.”

She said the surprise was one of the coolest things to ever happen to her. Picture: Supplied

Yorketown Area School students Stacey Searle (left) and Mickayla Peter (right) organised a whole school flash mob for their teacher. Picture: Campbell Brodie.

The 35-year-old has been a fan since 2012 and saw them play at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in 2013 and AAMI Stadium in 2015.

“The first time that I saw them at the Entertainment Center was just so much fun,” she said.
“And then seeing them at AAMI Stadium was amazing, we managed to get almost front row tickets (...) Harry threw one of his towels to the little girl in front of us.

“Zayn left (the band) like a month later so that was one of his last ever concerts, not that we knew at the time, so they’re really fun memories to look back on.”

Like many fans, she was shocked by the death of former member Liam Payne who died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina on Thursday.

“I was extremely shocked. Like the rest of the world, I’m still trying to process,” she said.

“My husband texted me, at like eight this morning, and I was like oh my god.”

While she had become more of a casual listener in recent years, she said the impact of One Direction on her generation was undeniable.

“I feel like a lot of people will be reflecting on what One Direction meant to them, especially because most of their fans were teenagers or young adults at the time,” she said.

“It’s been 10 years, those people are now in their 20s or 30s and have grown up.

“Even though I’ve moved on as a fan, I still feel very fond of them as artists, so I think that a lot of people will be feeling his passing in a lot of ways.”

Originally published as ‘One of the coolest things that’s ever happened’: SA teacher looks back on students’ surprise 1D flash mob