Italian Creative Writing and English Literature BA student Prudenza Lacriola discusses her decision to move to London to study her childhood passion.
Why did you decide to study at London Met?
I’ve always wanted to study what has been my passion since I was a child: writing. Whilst I was searching online I found the London Met website, which offered a wide range of courses, including the English Literature and Creative Writing BA. It looked very interesting and offered students a complete knowledge in all fields of writing and literature, while other university courses in London didn’t. All the courses at London Met seemed to be specialised and there were definitely more than you could find at other universities. I’d finally found the right one for me.
Why did you want to study in London?
London gives everyone great opportunities to study and develop a career. There are only a few private schools offering creative writing courses in Italy, yet they’re too expensive and the government doesn’t help students with tuition fees. I chose London not only because I could get financial support, but also because it’s one of the most creative places in Europe and a multicultural city that enriched and inspired me. I wanted to study in London in order to open my mind to new views and become a better writer.
How did you find it moving to another country?
Moving to another country might have been hard in the beginning, but it was refreshing and fundamental for me. Only by doing this can one step out of oneself and look at things through different eyes and with renewed enthusiasm about the world. I’ve learned so much and I started observing everything from another perspective, the British one, merging it with my own. Someone who lives in a country other than their homeland will always have a broader view. I would be a completely different person right now if I was still in Italy; moving abroad was a stepping stone in my journey to become the person and the artist I want to be.
What has been your favourite part of your course?
It’s hard to say what the favourite part of my course was because I loved it all, but I was most into writing workshops. They made me rediscover myself as an artist; we were often told to think about something simple, such as the view outside our window or a conversation we overheard on the street and I was amazed by how simple, ordinary things can turn into art and how I had the power and skill to transform those into art.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
I hope the next step in my career will be getting a job in the literary field, and probably, after getting some work experience, I’ll apply for a master’s degree.
What would you say to an international student considering a degree with London Met?
London Met is a welcoming, inclusive, amazing place for people from all walks of life and from all over the world. It’ll make you feel at home and yet it will get you ready to go out into the world, always offering new exciting challenges. The lecturers at London Met are always there to help you not only as students but as people. What you’ll learn will not only enrich you on a cultural level but on a personal one. I think London Met not only builds professionals, it opens your mind and lets you see things you weren’t aware of before. You’ll learn what you want to, you’ll fall in love with it over and over again and you’ll become a wonderful person.
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"Someone who lives in a country other than their homeland will always have a broader view. I would be a completely different person right now if I was still in Italy; moving abroad was a stepping stone in my journey to become the person and the artist I want to be."