I wouldn’t change my experience for anything

How would you summarise your time at university?

I miss it so much! Looking back, it felt like a dream. I made lots of content while I was studying because I wanted to document everything. Now, I have traces of my memories on Youtube which are nice to look back over. I wouldn’t change my experience for anything.

I’m so glad I chose Sheffield. The student union organises so much for students that it really pulls the community together. The city also feels very safe and diverse. There are links to the Peak District for hikes and you can head into the city centre and walk around artistic areas like Devonshire. 

As a girl from Hong Kong, I was really nervous travelling halfway across the globe to pursue university but, looking back, it was such a good decision. I’ve made so many lifelong friends and I took up lots of extracurriculars. I wanted to do something crazy and a little different so I joined rugby. It was one of the best decisions I made! I definitely found out a lot about myself during those three years.

How did you feel once you decided to leave Hong Kong?

I grew up my whole life in Hong Kong but I knew I wanted to travel. I was set on going abroad for university because I’m very curious and I wanted to learn, soak in other cultures and meet new people across the globe.

Initially, I was very nervous about facing the cultural differences but in the end I really enjoyed it. I love a roast dinner now! I also appreciated visiting the Peak District because, growing up, I had always been a city person. One of the funny little things that struck me was radiators. I had never seen one before because it was all AC back in Hong Kong. 

I really achieved what I set out to do, pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Being scared that I wouldn’t make any friends was such a silly thought because everyone was so nice. The good thing about university is everyone is in the same position, even if you’re from the UK. We all want to put ourselves out there and make friends.

Why did you decide to study Digital Media and Society?

Not a lot of universities offer anything to do with digital media. Journalism was an option but I wanted something more niche that looked at online identity, how people present themselves and the implications of moving towards a virtual society. The course at Sheffield was exactly what I wanted.

For my dissertation, I was able to investigate the parasocial relationship between Instagram fitness influences and the normal everyday Instagram user during COVID 19. There was a strong uplift in the online fitness community during lockdown because a lot of people were keen to stay active during such a tricky time. I was able to explore the good and the bad of this phenomenon which was really interesting. 

What’s your current job? How are you finding it?

I work for PR and Communications at Dyson. After I finished my degree at Sheffield, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I took a Masters course to focus on academia but once I graduated I knew I didn’t want to continue on to PhD. So, I started looking for jobs in communication and media.

I love Dyson’s products and the company’s value. Being able to transfer the skills that I picked up from university to this job is great. At Dyson, I plan their global PR & communications strategy. Daily, I do a lot of writing, social media and influencer campaign  management. Having a strong foundational knowledge in how people interact with digital media has been really helpful.

Everyday is slightly different, which I find refreshing. Today, for instance, I was asked to pull together a last minute guidance pack to help pitch a product to journalists and influencers  at a global level. It can be challenging, but it’s rewarding to see the outcome of the guidance you created and how the local marketing team brings it to life. 

Do you have any future career goals?

Honestly, I haven’t really thought about it. Right now I’m just trying to gain as much experience as possible and learn with the resources available in my current company. I’m at a stage where I’m still exploring what my interests are. I hope to eventually find that one thing I’m really good at and make a proper career out of it. The good thing about my current employer is that they’re a global company so there are many different departments I can work in and explore. 

What advice would you give prospective students like you?

Put yourself out there! Trust your gut and take the leap of faith. When I was growing up, I was only aware of London and Manchester in the UK, but I chose Sheffield because I liked the degree. I’m happy I made the decision to come to a city I had never heard of as it was an unforgettable experience.