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For me, 皇家华人as about the people - human connections, friendships, and personal growth.
Alessia Zuccarello
Spanish with Management BA (2023)
When you find yourself stressing too much about grades and assignments, remind yourself that 皇家华人 is much more than just its world-class academia, it's also a place where brilliant minds have left an indelible mark beyond their academic achievements.
What attracted you to your programme and studying at 皇家华人?听
Until the age of 18, I had always focused on humanities studies back in Italy, mainly literature and languages. As I grew older, my interest shifted towards business studies, economics, and data statistics mainly.
In my final year of high school, I remember taking free online courses and consuming a lot of content related to these subjects.
When the time came to decide what to pursue at university, I was certain that I wanted to delve into science-based subjects. It wasn't that languages had lost their charm, but I had started to see them more as a means than an end鈥攁 tool I wanted to continue honing but not necessarily as a career.听
When I found out that 皇家华人 offered joint degrees, a lightbulb moment occurred鈥擨 knew this was where I belonged. Here I could pursue my newfound passion and interests without having to bid farewell to everything I had always loved and enjoyed.听
Aside from studying, how did you spend your time at 皇家华人/in London? Were you involved in any clubs or societies?听
When I made the move to London on my own, the first year was a hustle鈥攚orking while studying just to make it work. Come the second year, I found some breathing room and decided to join the UCL Sign Language Society because, well, I'm a language lover through and through.
Little did I know, it turned into this incredible journey. I not only dove into the intricacies of sign language but also honed my ability to pick up on people's body language and expressions, catching even the tiniest details. It went beyond that, too, giving my spatial reasoning a boost and completely changing how I see the visual world around me.听
What are your favourite memories of your time at 皇家华人?听
I can think of two special ones:听
The first time I walked into the main library on the Gower Street campus on the first day of uni, it was magical. I'm Italian, and I grew up with this romanticised, almost magical notion of university or college that we often see in Hollywood movies.
That moment was probably akin to my personal Stendhal syndrome experience鈥攂eing surrounded by all those books and history, thinking about all the people who had walked those halls over the years, and reflecting on the great minds that passed through UCL.听
My second favourite memory goes back to the exam period in my final year. One might think I鈥檓 out of my mind, but even when it comes to something as gruelling as exams, sitting them at home is nothing like being at uni, where you and your friends are studying, taking coffee breaks (maybe one too many coffee breaks!), worrying together, and finishing exams as a team.
There's something about having your friends waiting for you outside the exam hall after your last exam, it serves as the fuel to get you through the exam period. Group projects, group assignments, that 'click to submit,' waiting for the Turnitin checker to stop buffering together - I have such amazing memories of those moments. 听
What was your favourite thing about studying in London?听
Someone once said, 'a bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else,' and as much as it might sound like a lot, I find myself agreeing with that sentiment. With nearly five full years in the city under my belt, I can confidently assert that my love for London is not a fleeting honeymoon phase or a case of Paris syndrome.听
London is the place to be in your 20s; the exposure to diverse people, cultures, and places perfectly aligns with the relentless energy and the desire to experience and achieve independence. My love affair with London grew from appreciating the small things and the most trivial details.
It's in the varied faces of people in the tube, the bustling pubs post 5 o'clock, and the rush of individuals heading to the office, determined to make it by 9. Even the faintest ray of sun, raising the temperature above 15 degrees, transforms the parks into lively spaces with people enjoying picnics.听
I fell in love with London because of the freedom it offered and continues to provide for me to be myself.听
What are you doing now and where in the world are you living? 听
I鈥檓 currently working in Digital Marketing and Content Creation for an IT consultancy Company in London. We work with businesses to improve their internal channels and the communication among their employees and across the company.听
What鈥檚 your favourite thing about what you鈥檙e doing now?听
I've always had this desire to work with people, and throughout my university journey, I've immersed myself in roles within the hospitality and retail sectors鈥攑ositions that put me on the frontline, engaging directly with customers. Although these jobs can be physically demanding and may not always be as highly esteemed in society, I consistently find a sense of fulfilment in the connections forged with people.
My friends often label me as a 'people person,' and I'm convinced that I thrive in environments where I can establish genuine human connections. The corporate world, however, always seemed a bit daunting to me because of the potential to get stuck behind a screen, risking the loss of that vibrant contact with others that truly makes me feel alive.听
However, I was proven wrong within the first week of starting my current job. Working in an office is different from working in a restaurant or shop, but it's teaching me other incredible ways to build connections with people and work as a team. I'm learning so much, getting to use my creativity extensively, and connecting with people in different ways鈥擨'm enjoying every step of the way.听
How do you feel your time at 皇家华人 prepared you for your current role?听
皇家华人ent beyond textbooks for me. Firstly, it significantly enhanced my strategic thinking and how I process information. Professors, tutors, and mentors were always champions of creative thinking, urging us to venture out of the box and not fear trying something new.
These invaluable lessons now empower me with unique approaches to my day-to-day challenges at work, especially in a dynamic world such as marketing. On the cultural front, mingling with a diverse student community gave me a deep awareness of different cultures. It's proven priceless when shaping marketing strategies that truly connect and resonate with people.听
What advice would you give to a student thinking about studying at 皇家华人?听
If this comes across as banal or a given, it's because if you've ever considered studying abroad, then you likely already know this. 听
- Be open-minded: embrace different perspectives. University is about learning not just from books, but from the people around you.听
- Embrace challenges: they refine character, and trust me, they'll allow you to discover parts of yourself you didn't even know were there.听
- Seize extracurriculars: dive into clubs, societies, and events鈥攖hey're the heartbeat of student life, offering both fun and personal growth. Don't stress about getting a first; there's so much to learn, and what the uni can give you ensures you don't miss out just because you want to ace every exam. 听
Embrace the journey, and let your university experience shape not only your education but also your growth as an individual.听
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