Leave student ambassador Mimi alone in a craft shop, and it’s easy to predict what happens next. She’ll most likely exit with an empty wallet and a head full of new project ideas. “I love doing handcrafts like crochet, papercutting, and sewing.” she says. “They’re all hobbies, but they relate to my study. I can take skills from these activities and put into my assessments.”
Mimi was first drawn to creative activities when she was a child in Vietnam. She says, “I loved drawing when I was a kid, even though I can’t say I’m very good at it. But as soon as I learned how to use design software like Photoshop and Illustrator, I realised I could make something fun. I feel like designers are the people who build our future world. With the technology we have now, designers can form how the world will look. After all, everything has to be designed.”
Hearing the creative call
Despite her obvious love of design, Mimi didn’t choose a creative path right away. Instead, after completing high school in Ho Chi Minh City, she studied Chinese for two years. But the creative urge was always with her. “I still felt like I wanted to do something more creative, so I continued to teach myself how to use the software. And I kept learning about design on YouTube. That helped me a lot, but it’s not enough,” she says. “I wanted to study abroad to upgrade my skills and challenge myself – to go to a new environment and see what happens. So, I asked my agent about UTS, and they said I’d have to wait for a year. Then I discovered UTS College was a faster way into the degree I wanted – Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication – so I enrolled in Diploma of Design and Architecture.”
Help was there for the asking
Even for an enthusiastic student like Mimi, there were challenges transitioning to a new country and study environment. But UTS College provided the help she needed. All she had to do was ask. She says, “Because I studied high school in Vietnam, English was not easy for me, and I never learnt how to write an essay or a reference. I got help from my tutor. I went to him every day with all my questions. And I think the tutorials were very important; doing the pre-tutorial work makes all the difference. Then there were the Student Advisers – any time I needed help I would email them and get a reply very quickly, so it was very smooth.” Mimi also made good use of the online resources. “I used Studiosity for every assessment,” she says, “I could upload the assignment to check and get feedback on how to improve it.”
Some samples of Mimi's graphic design and self-portrait work, including a piece inspired by Lizzo's 2019 Met Gala costume, and an Addams Family inspired piece in which the hands represent the unwavering support of her family and friends.
Now in second year at UTS, she fully appreciates the value of her diploma. “It helped me a lot in building a foundation to develop my skills and prepare for uni,” she says. “I feel like it’s worth every single dollar I paid because I got so much help, good advice – the advisers, everything was so wonderful.”
Part of a community
To Mimi, becoming a student ambassador is a way of giving back. She says, “I remember when I started my first semester at UTS College I was not confident. But I got help from the College, the tutors, the study adviser, and especially the student ambassadors. Then I was nominated to be a, Peer Helper and it reminded me of the help I got when I first came here. That’s why I applied to be a student ambassador. I feel like I am part of the community.” She has also discovered professional advantages. “Being an ambassador means a lot on my CV when I apply for a job. And I get to practice my skills in visual communication and making videos for social media. Uni isn’t all about studying. It’s about how you build your skill set before you work in your industry.”
Making the most of her diploma
While she completes her degree, Mimi’s already making inroads into her career. “I’m a graphic designer for a tech company. I got my first internship with them last October. It was a three-month paid position, and after that they offered me a permanent job. I do social digital design for them, some animation, and sometimes I design presentations. And they let me work two to three days a week when I’m back at uni. I really enjoy it,” she says.
Mimi says her experience at UTS College, and her qualification, helped her stand out in the job market. “After I graduated from UTS College, I added my Diploma of Design and Architecture to my application and I built a portfolio for myself, based on work I’d done for my assessments. I’m always happy to share with people how I got my internship and my job.”
When she considers her future, Mimi has a few options in mind. “After my degree,” she says, “I may decide to take a master’s. I’m still thinking about it because I’d like to work at uni as a tutor teaching design. But I want to challenge myself in the agency environment too because I know that would be very different from a tech company. It would be my dream.”
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