Joy Lam

Hi everyone! I’m Joy from Hong Kong.

I am in my third year at Leeds, studying Communication and Media for the final year. I studied for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education in my hometown, in a tense and stressful environment as I stayed in a local and government-funded school, with a tight schedule full of assignments, revisions, and after-school detentions for six years.

Studying in Communication and Media at Leeds is relatively more relaxed when compared to my high school time as I am now finally able to choose my module based on interest but not advice from my teachers and parents. I enjoyed the courses that gave me a broader understanding of the relationship between media and politics, for example, Power, Politics, and Media in my first year and my current module, The Reporting of Politics.

The flexibility and wide range of selection for models offered by the School of Media and Communication is always the best part of my degree as I can take modules from various fields like journalism, media production, and media theories.

I had never been to Leeds before 2022 when I graduated from high school, and I soon fell in love with this place because of all the nice people I met there. Leeds is attractive from my perspective because of the high ranking and reputation in the media industry for my course, the close distance between campus and the city centre for easily fulfilling daily needs, and the entertainment options offered by the Uni in terms of student-managed societies and exciting nightlife.

During my wonderful time in Leeds, I'm also able to take adventures and explore something new like being the President of Hong Kong Public Affairs and Social Service Society, one of the 300+ student-led clubs offered by the Leeds University Union (LUU). Taking up a leadership role is never an easy task, however, it marks the most remarkable moment of my University life as I met my committee team aka my best friends in Uni here! Spending days and nights with them to organize perfect events for our members not only created the most unforgettable memories for us but also ignited my passion to pursue the event management industry after graduation.

As a final year student who has spent already two-thirds of her Uni life challenging herself, stepping out of her comfort zone, and meeting individuals from various backgrounds, I would certainly encourage you to try every new thing during your years in Leeds as this is a place filled with opportunity and help you equip yourself with skills and experiences for the better future.

I hope this gave some insights into what it is like being an international student and can't wait to chat with you! Please feel free to message me on Unibuddy or email me at joy-link@leeds.ac.uk if you would like to know more about anything!