At 23, Theresia has already accomplished more than many do in a lifetime. Moving from Indonesia to Canada in May 2021, she started her journey at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), where she is currently pursuing a double minor in Creative Writing and Media and Communications.
Theresia’s passion for storytelling began early, leading her to graduate from Vancouver Film School (VFS) with a diploma in Writing for Television, Film, and Games. Her drive to continue honing her craft brought her to UFV to continue writing her career path.
“I wanted to continue my writing journey, and one of the universities that offers a writing program is the University of the Fraser Valley,” Theresia explained.
Recently, Theresia faced one of her biggest challenges yet: managing a successful festival. The event was the result of two and a half months of intense work and planning, peaking in May with a level of stress she hadn’t anticipated. Despite the pressure, she found joy in the process.
“I am so delighted that the festival was a success. It had been two and a half months of pressure to get everything right,” she said.
Managing the festival was a few budget constraints and a limited team was a challenge, she admits.
“With no budget, there are certain limits that none of the art festivals in UFV, like Interpret Festival, experienced.”
She had to be resourceful, finding donations for essentials like water and snacks for the participants and even securing free uniforms through a connection at a shirt design factory. Her attention to detail proved both a strength and a challenge, as she learned to adapt to different working styles within her team.
Theresia’s hard work paid off, and she discovered new avenues for her future career. Initially focused solely on writing for the film industry, she now sees the potential in working for art festivals, music festivals, and even production companies.
“If I am going to work in the entertainment industry, I need to be a writer. Through this journey, I realized that I may enter the industry through festivals; film festivals, art festivals, or even working in a production company.”
Looking ahead, Theresia hopes to work for a company that organizes various festivals or a production house managing television series. While she remains committed to her dream of becoming a scriptwriter, she is excited about the broader opportunities now within her reach.
For future students considering a similar practicum, Theresia has valuable advice:
“Do it wholeheartedly. It will be hard work, but everything will pay off nicely when you can watch the guests having fun, laughing, and enjoying the show, as well as the participants who will share their passion with happiness.”