I’m not good at reflecting, nor am I good at writing about my experiences if you were to ask me, but at times, I do look back at myself and applaud towards the achievements in my life, even if it was just stepping outside to go to my favourite local bakery and get their fresh bakes after contemplating whether to spend my weekly spendings in a day, or just make myself breakfast at home instead. (We love bread out here).
I knew AUB was right for me when I found out more about the course and what they offer throughout the three-year duration. I have always been intrigued with interior design since I was little. I guess you can say every interior designer can relate to this by playing The Sims. (Am I right?!)
I studied interior design in Malaysia, but had a little spark of interest towards architecture itself. But am I going to study seven years of architecture? No. Not because I feel like I’m not capable of it, but because designing for people from an interior perspective, and enhancing the way they explore the space, feels more personal to me. It may look cool on the outside, but the inside matters too.
When I was searching for further studies opportunities overseas, there were options for both Interior Design and Architecture. I applied for both in other universities, but when I found out that AUB offers a course for Interior Architecture and Design… (I was all about that and it’s best of both worlds).
But why AUB? I tried my luck, scoping the universities when I visited the UK and went with the flow. Feeling the environment, the energy from course leaders and lecturers, the town or city, were there good breads I can get nearby? And when I visited Bournemouth for the first time, it just felt right at that moment. The people, the environment, the University... just felt right. I must also add that the BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design course leader is pretty cool and has great style.
So yeah, I told my parents that I thought AUB was the one, had an offer with them and accepted it. And the rest is history.
Looking back at my years at AUB and in Bournemouth now, I could say that I actually have achieved a lot. I have honed my presentation skills, learnt different design software that I never knew I would be exposed to. I have also learnt to be independent and to be a team player at the same time. I showed up at tutorials even when I feel like I’d made no progress on my work. I have developed skills that I never knew I’m capable of and learnt to express my ideas even if it seemed unfeasible. Besides, I have appreciated the little mistakes, failed interventions and emotions I had whilst meeting deadlines. All in all, I have grown and learnt a lot throughout the years as a designer and as a person.
All this learning gave me the opportunity to excel in my design development and thinking, thinking outside the box (although it’s still a learning process), getting recognition from my lecturers and for them to be able to push me further, and even a placement opportunity for real-life work experience, which I’ve made great connections with until now.
I’m not just saying all this idly, but as a person who didn’t know how to approach or talk to people without being awkward at the start, I’ve developed confidence to just go for it. It may not be all the time, but it’s a start to not stop. I’ve become more ambitious and although some of those ambitions are still in the far future, sometimes speaking out my ambition gets the recognition to make it real.
Lastly, I just wanted to say, (they may hear this all the time, but probably not enough too) thank you, thank you to my Interior Architecture and Design lecturers for noticing my potential, believing in me, and teaching me things that makes me wonder the reality of it. Thank you to my parents for pushing me to further my studies and encouraging me to seek opportunities. Thank you to the friends I’ve made and the people I’ve interacted with that made living in the UK cool. And thank you to AUB for giving me the offer that made all this possible.
