Month: November 2025

I’d like to talk a bit about my colleagues.
Since I’ve had very little part-time work experience before, having “colleagues” feels like something completely new to me. I often find it hard to tell whether I should think of them as friends or just coworkers, so figuring out the right distance can be tricky sometimes.

I work at the studio two days a week, and there’s one permanent staff member who’s always there. There are also two other interns besides me, each working once a week at the studio, so I get to see both of them once a week. As I mentioned in my previous post, during the first week of my placement, I felt a big gap between what I had imagined and the actual workload. But honestly, thanks to these two, I’m now able to enjoy my two days at the studio much more.

The studio’s mission is to deliver reclaimed art materials to people who need them, and I feel a sense of purpose knowing that I’m contributing to that vision. Still, since many of the tasks involve repetitive or physically demanding work, it can be hard to stay motivated. That’s why the one-hour lunch break during our eight-hour shift feels like a little reward. I usually go out to eat with one of the other interns. Since the studio is in Shoreditch, we browse Google Maps, check out a few lunch deal menus, and walk about five minutes to whichever place looks good that day.

It’s only been about a month since we met, but they’re both incredibly kind and funny. Because our roles are quite similar, it feels a bit like, “We gotta stick together whether we like each other or not.” Even so, I’m genuinely happy that I met them through this placement.

It’s the first time I’ve been able to talk so freely with native English speakers my age without feeling stressed. Usually, I get frustrated with myself for not speaking English well enough and end up overthinking things. But with these two, I can be my true self — just as I am in Japanese. More than that, they have an exceptionally deep understanding of what it’s like to speak English as a second language. Honestly, they might be as understanding as my language school teachers (haha). Because of that, I feel comfortable speaking and making mistakes around them.

I’m really happy to have made new “friends.”

Why am I the person I am today, and where am I heading next?

Four years ago, when I was studying at a high school in Vancouver, I discovered the path I wanted to take. It was also the moment I saw a glimpse of the kind of person I wanted to become, and I remember how excited I felt imagining my future self. I had a clear idea of the world I wanted to be part of, but no confidence at all in whether I belonged there. Still, I was drawn to the creative field.

I grew up in a small countryside town in Japan until I was fifteen, spending most of my time watching Disney Channel shows and Hollywood movies. My older brother was obsessed with London’s pop culture, and through him I became fascinated by the creative energy of the city long before I ever set foot there. I wanted to step into the world behind the screens and the glossy magazine pages, not to be the one shining in front of the camera, but the one helping others shine. I wanted to become an art director. That’s why I decided to study at an art university in London.

When I told my parents and the adults I trusted about my dream, they didn’t support me at first and honestly, I understood why. At fourteen, I had left Japan for Canada, saying, “I want to speak English and live a life like in Disney Channel shows!” So when I later said, “Now I want to go to London to study art,” of course, they were surprised (and maybe a bit worried lol).

Around that time, my most respected teacher told me something that really stuck with me:

“Don’t give a shit what adults tell you. It’s boring anyway. Just listen to your own voice again and follow your gut. That’s what really matters — it’s your choice.”

When I looked back, I realized that even though I grew up in a town where Disney Channel or Cartoon Network wasn’t common, I was always watching those shows. Later I learned that my dad wanted me to see a wider world, and that’s why he let me watch foreign programs. While my classmates talked about local shows, I was the only one fascinated by overseas media, music, and magazines. Going to high school in Canada was one of the dreams that came true.

So what’s next? Following what truly inspires me, that’s what has guided me all along. I came to London from Japan with courage and intuition, believing that no matter the result, the process itself would become my strength.

Now, having completed two years at UAL and started my DPS year, I feel that things are going well. But at the same time, I’ve begun to see my ideal world and my real ability more objectively. The word “life” feels more realistic now, and sometimes anxiety outweighs excitement.

Still, when I reflect like this, I realize I want to make my younger self proud. I want to keep working hard for the person I used to be, and keep believing in the person I’ll become. That’s why, even if I sometimes feel that my current placement might not suit me perfectly, I believe it’s worth continuing a little longer.

12th October 2025

I’ve always been the type to get sick easily when I’m under stress, but catching a fever just one week after my placement started might be a new record for me (lol).

I knew the autumn flu was going around, but the combination of stress and the sudden drop in temperature got me perfectly caught by Fresher’s Flu. Looks like it’s going to be a long year…

5th October 2025

On the first day of my internship, I felt a gap between what I had imagined and the actual workload. To be honest, I was a little overwhelmed at first, but the staff and another intern at the studio were so kind and sweet that I thought, maybe I can make this work. I mean, I have to make it work anyway. This is my choice, even though I’m still not completely sure. So anyway, I have two main goals for this placement: to learn how businesses operate within the creative industry and to improve my English skills.

The reason I decided to take the DPS year was because I couldn’t picture myself as a working adult after graduation. I left Japan almost on impulse, but since I came to London with a clear goal and determination, I want to get closer to the person I aspire to be. To do that, I needed to test myself through an internship, to find out whether I truly want to work in the creative industry.

However, when I started researching internship opportunities, I quickly hit a wall: I didn’t have any media skills. I’ve always focused on physical, sculptural works and had barely used any digital tools like Adobe. Yet, most of the roles I was interested in required Adobe skills. Luckily, that’s when I came across a position at a materials studio.

I passed the interview and was ready to start in two weeks, but then I received the worst news. Due to changes in the work visa rules introduced in July, I was no longer allowed to do the internship there. With the help of UAL staff, I managed to arrange an individual contract with the studio, which wasn’t officially counted as part of DPS but still allowed me to work there. My DPS year was set to be based at UAL, and before I knew it, summer ended and my uncertainty never really went away. That’s how my DPS year began, with a mix of confusion and hope.

To be honest, I still struggle with emails and online meetings. Sometimes I think I understand everything, but I actually don’t. There are moments of miscommunication, and I don’t always know how to correct them. When it’s time to share my opinion, I can’t find the right words, and it gets frustrating.
Even so, I chose to put myself in this challenging environment because I want to become more confident by the end of the year. The anxiety hasn’t gone away, but I believe this experience will become something meaningful that strengthens me as both a person and an artist.