Interview with Interior Design Student, Anna Parfenova

Receiving the President's Honors Roll Certificate

Your proudest accomplishment/s at SBCC so far?

I really love what I study. I spend a lot of time and effort to learn something new, to carry out a project successfully or to find inspiration for an art work. Therefore, it is nice to realize that my efforts are noticed and appreciated by others. This year I have earned recognition with the President's Honor Roll and an International Student Support Program Scholarship. But perhaps the biggest and most unexpected reward for me was an invitation to participate in an Interior Design TV show. I was incredibly flattered and encouraged that I became one of those students, who was chosen not just to prove myself in the show, but to represent Santa Barbara City College and our Interior Design program. It became a great honor and an unforgettable experience for me.

How has this activity enhanced your college experience?

Participating in a TV show

Participation in the TV show taught me how important it is to learn how to communicate with people in school, in a job, and in any other activity. You can do an excellent job, create incredible masterpieces, be a master in your field, but if you do not know how to communicate with people, it does not matter. It is important to be able to present your work and do it well, be able to negotiate with the client, be able to work with the supplier, with your team and with a team of professionals in another field, be able to avoid conflicts and mistakes, while still keeping your goals and staying true to your principles. This experience gave me an idea of ​​how much sometimes your success depends on other people and that it is a hard job to collaborate with these people to achieve your own goals.

And of course, participation in the TV show is an excellent experience in public speaking, of manifestations of organizational and oratorical skills, of using time management and good preparation, of struggling with fears and complexes. The practice of all these skills gives a good competitive advantage in any work.

What advice  would you like to share with a new student who wants to make the most of their SBCC experience?

First of all, be true to yourself. Do what you really like and do it well. Listen to yourself, choose with your heart and always be faithful to yourself on your way. Second, if you are afraid - do it. If you are not confident in your abilities, think that you will not succeed, feel embarrassed, shy, afraid - be sure to try it. Without it, you will never grow. If you fail - it will make you stronger, and if you succeed - you will take yourself to a new level. But you will never lose.

And the last, just enjoy. Enjoy all that you do, see, feel, all that surrounds you. You will never catch the same moments in life again. Love them all.