Lily Barnett dishes out good advice for future animators

Why UTS?

There are obvious factors that impacted my decision, such as being commutable from my home, but my other more important reasons came from simply visiting the university by myself when I was in high school. I was at a time in my life where I had 101 ideas of what I wanted to do after I graduated, but I need to FEEL the vibe of a place before I commit to going somewhere. 

I always do lots of research before I make a big decision, so I spent a day (when I should've been studying for my exams) to wander around the UTS campus. I really loved how open, comforting and motivating the place felt.

I brought my mum to the campus when we came to a faculty event to check out the animation degree available here, and she could tell I really felt comfortable here. Talking to the staff of UTS further cemented this feeling, as they were very understanding and welcoming to someone like me, who has always had trouble fitting in at school. 

From around year 10, when I first visited my career councillor at school, I had specific requirements and ideas about what I saw myself doing in the future, and additionally, how I wanted to reach those goals. I knew I wanted to do something creative, and work with people who had the same passion for their work as I do.

I had explored other private institutions for my study, but I found that UTS’s Animation Production had the best connections within the industry, and whose curriculum allowed me to explore many ways of thinking about what my career in the future may look like. The course not only focuses on practical skills but emphasises developing the arguably more important soft skills that you need to succeed in such a team-based industry.

I also have had access to many pieces of high-tech equipment I otherwise could not afford on my own, as well as professional help from the staff at Media Lab, who taught me how to work all their camera equipment and other cool gadgets that helped me excel in my studies. 

I started off knowing no one in my degree but made my first friend on our very first day of official classes. At the time it seemed ridiculous, but our tutors had tasked us during orientation to come in a “disguise”; in short, we had to create an extravagant and interesting character and come into class dressed up as whatever character we created. This public embarrassment of at least 100 students parading around the Building 6 courtyard really brought us together, and we all still look back and laugh about how close we have come to know one another all thanks to our very first lesson. 

UTS’s assistance services has also helped me in so many ways, from providing accessibility support and financial assistance, to helping me tackle my ongoing trouble with essay writing. They offer no judgement, only support and care for anyone who may be struggling, no matter the reason.

What’s next? 

My dream is to eventually travel the world while working, either remotely or moving around from project to project. I hope to eventually work in the video game industry and hope to one day land a position in production or become a supervisor of a team of creatives. I am currently hoping to start this journey by moving to New Zealand and working at Weta FX, but if I find something else that piques my interest, I am always open to a new adventure. 

Do you have any advice for students trying to decide what or where to study? 

I think the most important thing to consider when trying to decide what to study, is to think about how you might imagine yourself 10 years from now. Although this is prone to change, having something to look forward to and strive to reach is always the best way to keep you going. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy, and university isn't any different. So don’t think about how hard it may be, just know that you get out what you put into everything you do, and you will eventually be rewarded for your effort. 

I don’t think that any university is the perfect place for every student that walks through it, but I do know that every student who walks through a university and takes all the opportunities it offers will come out the other side stronger than when they first came in. UTS has helped me achieve my goals and has lived up to my hopes of what I wanted studying at university to be.