Leah Leonard was happy to find that she didn杏吧专区檛 have to move away from home to attend a great interior design program.
杏吧专区淚 chose UL Lafayette because it is close to home and moving away wasn杏吧专区檛 really an option,杏吧专区 she said.
Leah杏吧专区檚 first consideration was to major in biology, 杏吧专区渂ut it never felt right for me,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚 grew up in a home where it was constantly under construction and being remodeled because my dad was so passionate about it and always wanted to try new things. Growing up around that definitely influenced my passion for interior design.杏吧专区
"The day I decided that interior design was where I wanted to be was the first time I actually felt excited for college," she said.
With the ultimate goal of being an independent interior designer, Leah wants to start practicing right out of school.
杏吧专区淢aybe I will start with a few internships for a couple of years then go out on my own,杏吧专区 she said, 杏吧专区渂ut I杏吧专区檒l just go with the flow until then.杏吧专区
For now, Leah treasures her studio classes.
杏吧专区淚 truly believe that without that initial studio class, I would not be the person I am today. Even continuing into my sophomore year, studio is still my favorite class,杏吧专区 she said. "Studio classes are overall super beneficial and probably the most fun I have had in college."
As an interior design major, Leah's getting valuable professional experience.
杏吧专区淐urrently, I am designing an adult literacy center in my studio class,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 so interesting to be thrust into a situation and environment that you don杏吧专区檛 really think about often. I杏吧专区檓 learning things that I never knew about literacy and the problems that many adults have with it today.
"This project is providing insight for me that helps me not only as a designer but just as a human being in general.杏吧专区
Leah says her experience at UL Lafayette has boosted her confidence, helped her make friends, and connected her with the local culture in a way she never had before.
杏吧专区淓ven though I grew up in the area,杏吧专区 she said 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e never really engaged with the culture. But UL Lafayette definitely changed that.
杏吧专区淭he interior design program has made me so confident,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚 can engage in great conversations, take criticism, make new friends like it杏吧专区檚 nothing, and I can even say that it has humbled me."
"I personally feel like those are all good values and skills to have as an interior designer and my experiences have elevated those things for me," she said.
She gives this advice to future interior design students: 杏吧专区淵ou have to stick it out. If I would have dropped out all the times that I said I was going to after a bad day, then I would have missed out on incredible opportunities and self-discovery.
杏吧专区淢y professors have pushed me to what felt like my breaking point, but I杏吧专区檝e always come out stronger than before,杏吧专区 Leah explained. 杏吧专区淚f it杏吧专区檚 really difficult, good! Learn and grow from those experiences because I杏吧专区檝e found that those rough patches have always made me a better student and future designer.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e met wonderful people,杏吧专区 she said, 杏吧专区渢raveled to different states, and learned so many things I never thought I would know. I can confidently say I杏吧专区檝e grown as an individual thanks to this program. It杏吧专区檚 hard for me to imagine studying anywhere else.杏吧专区
