Jasmine, tell us a little bit about your journey.

I moved to Sydney, Australia from a little Island called the Isle of Man back in 2020. The island isn’t known by many people and only has a population of around 80,000 so moving to Sydney on my own was a really big deal to me and was a complete change to what I knew back home.

I’ve always loved fashion and being creative and I discovered that even more after moving to Sydney. After searching fashion and lifestyle courses, I came across Orana which offered a social media marketing and fashion business course, both available to international students. The course looked amazing and excited me so I jumped on a call straight away and within a matter of time, I was ready to start!

I am currently finishing my last term with Orana and I’m thrilled to say I’m currently working for Be Seen Socials - a social media marketing agency that I could have only dreamt of finding 2 years ago. Securing Be Seen Socials wasn’t easy and took me a long time to get to where I wanted to be but having Orana onside and helping with my industry experience pushed and motivated me to get to where I wanted to be. My current role as Creative Marketing Manager at Be Seen Socials includes account management, content creation, creative direction, influencer management and events.

What have been your highlights in your journey at Orana?

My highlights have definitely been the people I’ve met and the connections I have gained. I honestly would say the biggest lesson I’ve learnt in life is not only pushing yourself to always be learning new skills but pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Getting to know new people helped me so much within the industry and helped to get to where I am today. Also having a teacher as lovely as Ayla has been a highlight. She is such an inspiration and is always there for her students.

Was there anything you didn’t expect to experience as a fashion student?

I definitely didn’t realise how broad the fashion industry is! I’ve learnt so much since being at Orana which I genuinely feel has helped me gain the experience I needed to land my current position at Be Seen Socials.

What is it like being in the classroom?

So much fun! It doesn’t feel like you’re studying. The classes are really personal and quite small which I like as I feel like I learn much better when there are fewer people in the classroom. It also makes you feel really comfortable and it’s easy to ask questions.

What did you love about each of the courses you’ve studied and how has that supported you in your current role?

The Diploma of Social Media Marketing has helped with my content creation skills and helped me understand how many aspects are behind the world of social media. I definitely underestimated how much was involved! Social media looks super fun but it is also a lot of hard work. The Diploma of Business has helped me understand the essentials I would need if I started my own business and also how to use different techniques and platforms which has helped me in my current role.

Do you enjoy being a student in Sydney? What is your favourite thing about it?

I love it! I’m obsessed with Sydney - everyone back home doesn’t understand but for me, Sydney feels like home. The friends I’ve made are like family and the overall lifestyle is so much fun. The weather also makes it so much better. The only thing I would say is Sydney is fairly expensive so make sure you budget wisely.

What would you like to accomplish next in your career?

I absolutely love being at Be Seen Socials! It’s really special to me and we’re all really close and like a family. I love being on social media but it’s definitely something I don’t want to be doing long term. My main passion has been creative direction so within the next few years I hope to be focusing more on this and being head of a particular department in Be Seen Socials.

What advice do you have for someone thinking about going to Orana?

I would say if you’re creative or have a love for fashion and lifestyle then Orana would be perfect for you. Even if you don’t know exactly what path you want to take. All of their courses cover so many different aspects of the industry so you will learn along the way. Orana will also help with any internships and getting your foot in the door so if you’re trying to get noticed then definitely go to Orana.

Do you have a hot tip for any international students considering the move to Sydney?

Look into all your study options and look at your living expenses. Even look into job options as I guarantee once you get here it will save you time when you’re trying to organise everything when you start your course.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Orana has been such an important journey for me whilst living in Sydney. I will be sad to see it end but I love where it has taken me and the opportunities Orana has provided. I definitely would recommend Orana to anyone who has the same passion and interests as myself. Also, anyone who is debating a move to Australia, trust me, do it! You won’t regret it.