Finding Passion in Writing & Content Creation: A UCG Alumna’s Reflections on Growth & Career

In this interview, we catch up with a UCG alumna who discovered her passion for creativity and social media through her interdisciplinary studies. Drawn to UCG’s strong sense of community and academic flexibility, she explored various interests, from writing dystopian fiction to content creation.

Now managing UCG’s social media, she has embraced a career in digital marketing, stepping away from academia to focus on building her portfolio. Reflecting on her time at UCG, she highlights the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and embracing challenges—lessons that continue to shape her professional journey.

Can you share your overall experience at University College Groningen? What were some aspects of UCG that stood out to you the most, both academically and personally?

To start off, my overall experience of studying at UCG was great. I was really able to understand myself better and to figure out what I want to do later in life. Certain aspects of UCG that stood out to me the most was definitely the community, but also the education. Firstly, the community I found and the friends I made are the main aspects that have really helped me throughout the 3 years studying at UCG. This is because most of us all started together at the same spot (moving away from our parents, living in a new country, starting university, etc.) and were able to grow together. I knew that people had my back and I had theirs. In terms of the education I received, it allowed me to discover what are my strengths and weaknesses, as well as guided me to understand what career I would like to pursue. 

Was there a particular academic project or course at UCG that helped you develop skills you still use today and are hoping to use in the future?

We’ll see if I actually go through with it, but I took a class in second year called Dystopias that really helped me with my writing skills. We studied different dystopian stories and then our final assessment was to write our own based on what we have learned. I realised that I really enjoyed writing stories, characters and developing them. This was just piggy-backing off of my love for reading. I hope that in the future, I can use what I learned to write my own book one day or to just continue writing for myself. 

As an alumna, you continue to help manage UCG's social media accounts. Can you describe your role in that process? What is your approach to creating content, and what do you enjoy most about staying involved with UCG’s online presence even after graduation?

The bulk of my responsibilities as content creator for UCG lies in being available to create a video, podcast, instagram reel, tiktok video, whatever it may be, whenever it is needed. For example, I was asked to showcase Digital UCG on both instagram and tiktok to encourage prospective students to sign up. I don’t necessarily have an approach to creating content as of yet, but I have found that just following some trends here and there and then creating content that encompasses what UCG is works out just fine.  

How did you balance your academic workload with the responsibilities of managing social media? What time management strategies did you use?

Well the good thing is that I no longer have to balance managing social media with an academic workload, so I have decided to step away from academics for the time being. I found that doing my Masters right after completing my Bachelor degree was just too much for me and too quick so I chose to focus on my current job and develop my portfolio. The amazing thing is that through being Content Creator for UCG, I kind of realised that I really do like the creativity that comes with the job and hope to pursue a more creative career in the future.

Looking forward, how do you see your career evolving, particularly in relation to social media? How do you think the skills you gained at UCG and through managing social media will influence your next steps?

I really do hope to continue in social media / marketing, and I am curious to see which doors this can open and what roads I will walk down. I do truly see myself working in this sector and can’t wait to see what that looks like. In terms of skills I have learned at UCG, I will say that working with other students in group projects during my studies really helped me understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration, which I can only imagine how many more times I will encounter such circumstances.

Reflecting on your time at UCG and the experiences you had, is there anything you wish you had done differently? Any advice you would give to current students based on your own journey?

One thing that I will say that I most definitely wish I knew before I started university is that you will get overwhelmed at times and that’s okay. I wish someone would have told me that when something bad happens (bad grade, failed class), it is not the end of the world. There is always a solution and there are people there to help you. I did ingrain this nugget of advice in my mind in my second year but wouldn’t have hurt to hear before starting. 

How do you think your time at UCG has influenced the person you are today, both professionally and personally?

UCG has shaped me both personally and professionally. It helped me become more independent and self-aware, while the supportive community made a huge difference in my growth. Academically, it gave me the space to explore my interests and figure out what excites me. Managing UCG’s social media and working on group projects helped me develop teamwork, creativity, and communication skills that I now use in my career. Looking back, I can see how everything connected, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me next.