Student Divna's working summer in Paris, France

Paris, known for its art and culture, often attracts students seeking adventure. Divna, a Web and Mobile Computing student at RIT Croatia, took up this opportunity by joining an Erasmus Traineeship in Paris! She worked at The Independent European Film Festival, one of the world's most recognized independent film festivals, discovering the world of graphic design.

In this interview, Divna shares her unique experience, from deciding to embrace the unfamiliar to gaining valuable skills through hands-on work. She gives a glimpse into her challenges, successes, and cultural experiences that enriched her time abroad.

1. Divna in Paris! We are so curious about your Erasmus Trainee experience. How did you decide to go to Paris and work as a Graphic Designer for The Independent European Film Festival?

I wanted to experience as much of my student life as possible. After a very busy year, I wanted to get away from everything for a while and be completely on my own. So naturally, when I saw an offer in Paris, I realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I knew I just had to go!

2. RIT Croatia has mandatory co-ops as part of its programs. How valuable is this experience in your overall learning and development? Why?

Very! Being a student, you know what to expect when hired in theory, but getting some hands-on experience is invaluable! It helped me further sharpen my skills and develop the habit of having daily meetings. This position also required me to be more communicative and instilled more confidence in my decisions. The office is full of students like me, which created a sense of collaboration as we learned from and taught each other. Ultimately, I understood how to negotiate, give and receive feedback, and work in a team.

3. How does a Web and Mobile Computing student decide to do a co-op as a Graphic Designer?

Life works in mysterious ways! I think RIT is very well-rounded when it comes to skill learning. We learn everything from programming, app and web development, databases, and computer science but about design too! The New Media Design course made me realize I lean more toward the creative and visual side. Consequently, I decided to take a Graphic Designer position to experience working in that field and see what it looks like.

4. How has your Web and Mobile Computing academic background influenced your graphic design approach? Are there specific skills or concepts you learned during your college studies that you find yourself applying in your day-to-day work now?

It helped me a lot! We focus on visual aspects in web development and especially New Media Design. New Media Design prepared me for the exact type of work I did in Paris. Hence, without these courses, I would feel utterly confused. Being a teacher's assistant for New Media Design truly helped me be more adept at tackling issues. As every student is an individual, nobody sets up their interface the same way, and every person has a unique way of dealing with design problems. I had to learn how to help each one make that vision come true. That experience also humbled me, and I learned to be patient, as students who took the longest time often had the most impressive work.

5. How has the experience of living and working in Paris differed from your expectations? Any memorable cultural experiences or challenges you've faced so far?

I started with a lot of nervousness and minimal expectations, but in the end, Paris managed to win me over. My golden rule is to start with a big smile and say hello in French. Learn a few phrases and try to communicate in French as much as possible, but if you get stuck, ask if they speak English and get ready to use Google Translate. You are in their country, therefore respect them and their language. Ultimately, people are people, and I don't know where the stereotype of rude Parisians came to be. I have met many wonderful people there. I had locals give me tours, strangers offering to let me through when my tram card stopped working, and even shop clerks drew maps for me. Be careful! Many places close at 5 PM, 3 PM, or earlier, so if you are not used to that, plan your days carefully. Also, try visiting everything in the first two weeks. Later, you might not have the chance to, or run out of time by putting it off so much.

6. What have been the most exciting projects you've worked on during your traineeship? Are there any particular film posters or promotional materials you're proud of creating?

Every day is an adventure for a designer because new things happen daily, and new materials are always needed. We had a special screening in a cafe called Les Amarres. It was not a massive event, but quite a few people showed up, and the entire ground floor got packed. Seeing the poster I made for this event posted on the door gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride in my work. Similarly, when the poster got printed, my boss kindly sent it to me to be the first person to see it. The gesture made me feel appreciated and happy to see that glossy paper in person.

7. What advice would you give to other students considering an Erasmus Traineeship?

There are many.

Firstly, "Just do it!" You have the dreams you do for a reason, don't let others talk you out of it!

Secondly, be ready to run into problems. Living in another country for a while isn't always easy, and there might be times when you wish you had just stayed in the comfort of your home. Change is hard, but you can do hard things. Be patient with yourself, and I promise you will get through almost any crisis during your exchange.

Thirdly, prepare, prepare, prepare! The more information and preparation you do now, the less likely you will have problems later. Inform yourself about what you need, as Erasmus has a decent amount of paperwork. Ask around, go to info sessions, and take notes. Literally! Use some organizational tools, make to-do lists, and help yourself by keeping all your Erasmus-related information in one place.

Fourthly, don't get disheartened while job hunting! Personally, a two-month internship is too short for most companies, and I got rejected many times before I found the one that accepted me. It was discouraging, but as a result, I learned to be more comfortable during interviews. You might be in a similar situation, but remember that rejection does not diminish your worth or abilities. It is far better to be accepted by a company that desires like-minded people like you rather than one incompatible with your values. So write your emails and call people!

And most importantly, you can do it. You will be okay, and you got this!