Being uncertain about her future saw Vijaya Tarshini researching through television shows and online videos where she discovered the attraction of interior design. This led her to pursue a Diploma in Interior Design at Sunway University in 2019. It took some time for her to get used to campus life, as it differed greatly from secondary school before this. Eventually, she worked towards becoming familiar with it that allowed her to focus on her passion for learning.

Most of Vijaya’s varsity days were spent online as the COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after her diploma began. Initially, her grades were affected negatively by the pandemic as it was a challenging and demotivating time. However, she picked herself back up again with support from her friends, family and lecturers who believed in her potential. The final 2 semesters of her programme brought her back to physical classes as restrictions were lifted, which brought along another adjustment period. She persevered and through physical classes, she managed through the hectic schedule and learned the importance of proper time management.

The Diploma in Interior Design programme helped Vijaya grow her potential, with lecturers who were eager to assist and go the extra mile to sharpen her skills. “Mr Ivan, who used to teach me, always told me I had what it takes, and that I should go above and beyond with my ideas to come out of my comfort zone,” she comments, adding that his encouragements reassured her to not be afraid of failing. Vijaya also credits Mr Arief Afandi, her Final Year Project supervisor, for helping her improve and expand her knowledge in interior design. “Within just those few months, [Mr Arief] managed to teach me so much and I highly appreciate his articulate comments and criticism during our consultation sessions.”

Vijaya is also thankful for the various workshops held during her diploma, which educated her on how to get employed and what to expect during the internship semester. Group project assignments were a great way for Vijaya to learn how to work efficiently in a team, developing soft skills such as good communication in the process. Most importantly, the programme cultivated in her professional traits like ethical and sound decision-making and understanding her rights as an employee. Meanwhile, the internship semester that followed proved insightful as she learned the useful traits to look for when applying for a job.

Apart from interior design and industry knowledge, the diploma programme contributed to Vijaya’s personal growth as she learned to recognise her strengths and weaknesses. A notable lesson for her was on her perfectionist character. “Because I focus on perfecting my work to the most miniscule of details, it delays me in completing [it], therefore hindering my productivity and I often end up working myself to the bone,” she reflects. The programme taught her to recognise this and she is now able to make daily efforts to improve herself.

As a shy and introverted person, the global pandemic brought a barrier to Vijaya’s social life where making friends was a struggle. While she wasn’t able to get acquainted with a majority of her course mates due to online learning, she was able to find her her circle later on. She is ever grateful to these friends, who reassured her and guided her during the challenging seasons. “Thanks to the great friends I made along the way, I can confidently say that I am a better version of myself compared to before my time at Sunway,” she comments. She is still close with some of her course mates, who chat often and make time to meet up despite the growing commitments in their respective lives.

“Looking back before I joined Sunway, I feel proud of where I stand today,”. Overall, her journey at Sunway University brought her growth and created a path for her future. She was able to clear her doubts about her prospects and established her personal identity. Now, she is equipped with a new-found love for architecture and design, and is excited to secure a future for herself in this field.