Written By Zea
Business school is a magic place where you will find the most ambitious people and the most confused students in the world — at the same time. Over my four-year observation here, I’ve understood that the former see this place as a launching pad where they can add a catalyst to their success, and the latter choose it as the first step to a dream. Yet, I found myself nowhere among them.
I am not complaining about being left behind. A girl who gained A’s in major courses and actively engaged in business competitions wouldn’t be seen as being left behind. I was just not in any group of these two. I was in the middle, the tragic grey area between them — a person wished to gain success but was given the wrong catalyst.
Things changed in my second year of university. I knew exactly I wouldn’t stay long here as I entered. Then, I attempted to find a new track. I joined a game design summer camp and met a group of people passionate about video games and talented enough to transform imagination into reality. During the camp period, I learned how to use those tools to create art, collaborate with others and make functions with code and engine. Most importantly, I noticed the boundless potential for growth in the digital media industry and myself.
Instead of calling me a “creative” person, I would recognize myself as a problem-solver who always turns things into fun. I found myself more engaged in this type of project, during which I could take advantage of my ability to learn a tool and apply it to practice quickly. After that, I started to explore more chances related to digital media, including game development, animation, and even virtual reality content design. The more I dug into it, the more freedom I gained, and I realized I still needed to level up my skills. And it gradually became clear that it was where I could use my skills and experience. So, I decided to step into the digital media industry, go to another country and start a new journey, conveying all my passion and expectations.
The transition has not been all fun and games, from realizing what an uncertain situation I was in the past to taking action to start again. Luckily, I got strong support from my family and friends. Even though none came from the digital media field, they all stood by my side and encouraged me when I was nervous. Up until this point, I’m still satisfied with the decision I made.