Examen pour le London School of Journalism
Krisztina, graduated in 2006 in degree in Packaging Technology in Hungary, had known before she didn’t want to do it. The internship experience in the office of a packaging industry confirmed this in her mind. She decided then to move another country to embark on a new adventure where she will find what she really wanted to become.
“I had realized quite early that this life wasn’t for me. At 23 years old, I felt too young to be stuck in the same company. I wanted to discover myself.” The croupier training was a good opportunity to see something different. “When I have seen this ad, I was thinking, “why not.” I was really bad in mathematic in elementary school, so it was a double challenge. Then the school offered job abroad. I chose Edinburg because I was speaking English.”
On the eve of departure, Krisztina was not that confident. “Of course, I was scared a bit at the beginning because I left my family, my English wasn’t that good and especially I had never worked before. But I was with a Hungarian friend I had met in the training. I use to work, live and spend a lot of time with Gabriella. Definitely, to be with my friend was really important, especially at the beginning of an adventure like that”. Like a lot of young people discovering a new country, Krisztina felt excited by her new life. “Even if I missed my family, I enjoyed this period because I discovered a new country, language, people, and especially I felt free. It was a new life for me”.
Since her childhood Krisztina has always been interested in art. She has never stopped to draw, to paint and to write so far. “When I was child, I was just good at creation and art. So I have kept going in this direction. On one side I have always wanted to work in art but I have never been further.” An exhibition in Edinburg has led back her to the art. “In Scotland, I saw a lot of exhibitions. But one of them was a turning point for me. It was the Pixar exhibition. When I discovered pictures, illustration and animation, I said to myself: “Oh my god I want to do it, this is for me.” Even though I didn’t apply for anything straight away, I kept this idea in my mind.”
After a year and a half, Krisztina wanted to move from Edinburg. Then she decided to go to London where a croupier position was promised for her. “With the same friend, we have been to London but the job never came. Therefore, I decided to find another one.” After a while, she found a position in a coffee shop and soon became a supervisor. “I really enjoyed working in Maison Blanc. For the first time, I got a higher position. But it wasn’t what I wanted to do. After one year, I decided to take my destiny into my hands.”
Krisztina went without appointment to a little animation company in London to ask a job. “Staff members said it wasn’t the way to get a position, but they told me some schools to study. One of them caught my attention: Central Saint Martin School which specialized in 2D and 3D animation. I decided to specialize myself for the second one. Since the Pixar animation, I had the target to work for this company which is specialized in 3D animation.”
After passing a difficult English test and making her portfolio, the Central Saint Martin School accepted the Krisztina’s application. But this step was far to be the most difficult. “The school cost £3250. For me, it was a lot of money, and I didn’t have it. The idea was to go back to casino where I could get a better salary.”
But even if the school was paid, Krisztina had to earn money to live. “I decided to stay in casino during my study year. Therefore I was on school from Monday to Friday all day long. Then I was working Friday and Saturday night at the casino. It was a period really tiring both physically and mentally. I wasn’t experienced in 3D animation which is a subject really difficult. Therefore, I was to be concentrate up during the lesson and work a lot at home. Sometimes I felt dizzy, depressed, and sad but it was worth. Without hesitating, it was the best period of my life because I was with people who shared the same interest and learn something really interesting for me.”
Last summer, Krisztina received her degree. She is now looking for a job. “To succeed this year was just a step. Now, I have to find a job as 3D animator which is really hard. But I am quite confident, and I have found recently a really interesting internship.” Even if Krisztina is scared sometimes about her future, it is never long. “I am sure I will become animator because I have worked hard for it. People who have dreams should never give up.”
