Hello reader, my name is Scarlett, and I am a first-year student at Capilano University studying for my Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at the IDEA School of Design.

I chose to study at the IDEA School of Design because of the range of skills that the program offers to teach, both technical and creative. These skills include graphic design, illustration, branding, and photography – all of which I am eager to learn and explore in the next four years. I have only recently decided to pursue an education, and potentially a career, in visual art, so my skills and know-how still leave much room for growth and exploration. As I am still relatively new to discovering my creative interests and passions, I am not yet sure of which future career will fit me the best. I hope my time at CapU will help give me a better idea of which areas suite my interests the most and what specific job I should pursue post-university. If I had to choose, I think I am most interested in a career in either visual graphic design or illustration, though I will remain openminded to any other areas that the program may expose to me. In essence, I am drawn to that which inspires me, whether that be something I have much experience in, or something new that may suddenly spark passion in me. 

Another passion of mine is English. In the ENGL 100 course, I hope to develop the necessary writing and analytical skills for both university and a future career. In addition to learning proper grammatical techniques for English, I would like to open my mind to learning from my fellow classmates and understanding the world from a wide range of perspectives and cultural backgrounds. I have a great passion for analyzing and interpreting media as well as hearing new interpretations that I may have never considered, and I enjoy writing about these opinions. If I weren’t pursuing visual design, I would probably become some sort of writer. 

Hobbies I enjoy include personal artistic projects, where I can avoid the stress of ensuring that the piece of art will make an instructor happy, and I can solely focus on what makes me feel fulfilled. Projects like these may include exploring character design with digital art or trying abstract techniques with traditional mediums such as acrylic paint. At times where I feel creatively burnt out, I like to take a moment to dance – a practice that I’ve found to be very therapeutic and a very effective way in finding relief and mindfulness. I also enjoy finding artistic inspiration online on websites such as Pinterest and YouTube. I can only hope to one day inspire someone else in the way I’ve been inspired by several incredibly talented people. To relax my mind at the end of a stressful day, I spend time with loved ones, play video games, and jot down any lingering thoughts in a journal. 

I appreciate the opportunity to be studying at CapU and am excited for my journey in these next four years!