Annahita Hessami
Stained Glass ArtistWhat have you been up to since leaving University of the Arts London?
I have been working freelance as a stained glass artist. I also invest a lot of my time in producing my own art work. I am part of a collective, we are all artists from different fields in art and produce works and exhibit them around London.
Did you feel prepared when you graduated? If not, was there anything else you wish you’d done, any opportunities you wish you’d seized?
No one is prepared when they graduate. You have just spent three or so years in an unrealistic environment. The only way to overcome this is to do as much work experience and work as you can to give you an idea of what you are in for when you leave!
What, if anything, would you do differently?
I undertook two degrees at the University of the Arts. So for the second degree I made sure that I did everything I didn’t do to prepare myself during my first degree. But in retrospect, I could have spent more time making use of the universities advice centres and networking.
Are there any particular skills that you have come to rely on?
Not just one particularly but two: organisation skills and punctuality on deadlines. These two skills have been the most effective in my working environment.
What would be your advice to a student graduating now?
I think the best advice I can give is to do your research before leaving university. And while in uni, make the most of all the recourses available to you. Most importantly, listen and take advice!
