Arina Ormenisan

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background? 

I am in my final year of university and from a small city in Transylvania called Targu Mures. I am passionate about arts and technology and decided to pursue this at university. I enjoy long walks, hiking, playing tennis, swimming and cooking, experimenting with different recipes from cuisines all around the world. 

What made you want to apply to your course and to Leeds? 

Despite never visiting Leeds, I decided to apply because of the opportunities the University has to offer and the structure of the course I applied for. 

The University of Leeds is a highly recognised Russell Group university, having lots of options for academic life and personal development. From the website description of my course, I found that it did an excellent job in balancing theory and practice, letting you choose what you would like to focus on by having a multitude of diverse modules.  

What is it that makes you passionate about your area of study? 

The creative aspect and the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded people and share ideas. The ability to create innovative pieces of work makes all of the time and research worth it. 

What aspects of the course do you enjoy the most?   

The creative modules include special effects, graphic design, animation and editing. Having the opportunity to learn how to use editing software programmes such as Adobe Illustrator and After Effects has been very interesting and fun for me. 

The seminars and assignments have been challenging but they have allowed me to think differently about the aspects of the media and expand my knowledge by making connections to other areas of study. 

What would you say about the learning facilities in your School and at the University in general? 

In my first year, I would either be in the Media Lab or one of the libraries. The Media Lab offers professional computers with the software needed to complete assignments and projects.  

The library, (Laidlaw being my favourite) is the perfect quiet environment for focusing on your assignments, with printing facilities and the opportunity to borrow a number of books.  

Have you worked closely with a particular tutor or member or the University’s academic staff? Tell us about that experience.  

Every time I struggled with something I always reached out to my module leaders, and I always have been pointed in the right direction. I think everyone is there to help you develop not just academically but personally and professionally too. 

What other activities are available for students to take part in outside of their studies and which ones have you tried out yourself? 

The Leeds University Union (LUU) offers many societies and activities, there is something for everyone. In my first year, I participated in the coffee society meetings, yoga sessions and talks on different subjects given by influential people.  

Also, in the first year, I got to attend the Christmas ball, trips outside of Leeds and movie nights organised within the student accommodation I lived in.  

What do you plan to do when you’ve finished your course, and how do you think the skills and knowledge you’ve developed so far at Leeds will help with these plans? 

After graduation I will be excited to enter the workplace, finding an area I am passionate about.  

The help that the University offers is really beneficial. The support from colleagues and teachers, along with guest lecturers is also useful when thinking about your career. 

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying to your course? 

You should highly consider applying for this course if you are passionate about art and technology, interested in approaching media subjects from different perspectives and analysing the impact of technology on society. I would say not to worry about knowing if you prefer research or creativity, as this course gives you the opportunity to choose what appeals to you.