Leila is a digital copywriter and journalist who started out as a designer, artist and has a masters in English.
She has worked as a freelance writer, national magazine editor and blog editor who currently works for final bullet. Admittedly, I have interest in being a freelance game journalist when time permits but after i read this interview in regards to being a post-graduate and what sort of attitude to take when in my position.
"Talk to everyone, and try not to judge people with very different approaches to you; you’ll end up working with dozens of people you have nothing in common with, in the future. University is where you find out the things you’re really passionate about, so make use of the libraries, talks, and events. And while friendship is important, I think you’ll get even more from university if you find out who and what you respect."
I think this holds considerable weighting since not only does it mirror what Fred, Amber and Lorenzo have being saying all these years. It shines a light on my current status regarding my own practice: I need a clear direction that allows me to make full, proper use of the opportunities I have while I am still here.
I need to stop blurring the line between respect and friendship, try to establish a network of people who I have work that generates a feeling of awe and not jealousy.
I tend to drag myself down by constantly and irreverently comparing myself to other people, hindering my own efforts at improving myself and my practice. This can be achieved quite easily by thinking things through more effectively, all possibilities outlined, rather than worrying what I am doing is right or wrong: I have to be wrong to improve on mistakes.
"Create things that evidence your enthusiasms. Everything you make will help you to get a jump on graduates, but more importantly, it’ll help you to grow"
This capitalises on the points made above, I need to find some work that drives me, motivates my creative juices whilst contributing to my future career. Innovation and interpretation will help me grow as an individual in a constantly evolving industry.
"I would also advise students not to limit themselves to the possibilities offered by one career path; take risks, continually – every day. Don’t be afraid to ask people for things, especially with creative collaborations. Interrogate yourself about what really excites you, and stay true to that. Demonstrate your skills to employers through what you’ve made and how you are, not what claims you’ve made in a CV. And most of all, defend your motivation: without motivation, absolutely everything else falls apart."
An important quote in reference to my SOI and FMP. I need to eliminate my apprehensive nature which is no doubt accumulated by my lack of presentation skills, seemingly lost direction and tendency to not plan or draft what I am doing in relation to design work.
Knowing what interests me or what I want to do in the long run is a series of questions I often answer but don't elaborate on. I know its not too late to question myself now, but I need to put in the legwork to make sure I know what I like, I know what I want to be doing, I know where I want to go and most importantly, I know how to get there.
