Meet Emily from Germany: “It’s fascinating what you can learn and create in such a small amount of time”

21-year-old Emily Vasholz from Germany studied abroad at VIA Film and Transmedia – and learned that sometimes the unexpected is more enticing and effective than what the textbook suggests.

Picture of Emily

For Emily Vasholz, it was a spontaneous decision to do New Screens Experience semester at VIA Film & Transmedia. Emily studies business at NHL Stenden in the Netherlands and went on an exchange – where she learned a whole new way of seeing things.  

“As a business student you get used to studying theories, models and formulas. You know what works and what doesn’t.This semester has taught me that there are so many other ways of doing things and generally the unexpected can be more enticing and effective than what the textbook suggests,” the 21-year-old student explains. 

Loved lectures about VR and AR

For Emily Vasholz, learning about software was a new field, but she is surprised at how much she has learned. 

“I loved the lectures about the different software and tools, such as VR and AR as well as project mapping and interactive programming. I know this might all sound like a lot, but it’s fascinating what you can learn and create in such a small amount of time,” she says. 

Along with her classmates she worked on several projects while on the ‘New Screens’ semester.

The first big module assignment I worked on was one of my favourite projects. Me and three others created an immersive story experience with interactivity and project mapping. We created the illusion of a hallway transforming into another dimension, and then a small interactive game to get back to reality.

Emily Valsholz

Interesting online classes

For Emily Vasholz the semester abroad took an unusual turn. VIA’s campuses were closed mid-semester due to the corona virus and all teaching was moved online. Even though it was a huge change she doesn’t necessarily think she missed out. 

“In my eyes, VIA handled everything extremely well. In the very beginning the staff made sure that we were able to finish the course and they did everything in their power to provide nice content, and to get us back to school in whichever way possible. Of course, it would have been different to be at school physically. That being said, I don’t feel like I missed out. The online classes were really interesting, and if you can figure out how to make an Augmented Reality filter work by yourself at home, you feel like you can do anything,” she says. 

Friendships for life

Although she was nervous the first day, Emily felt very welcome as an exchange student – and she is sure that she has made friendships for life.

The first day is always a bit nerve wrecking. You just moved to a new country, you don't know what to expect and what is expected of you. However, everyone was super welcoming and kind and provided an environment for everyone to settle in. Now, after about five months, I can wholeheartedly say that the people I have met in this course will stick with me for a lifetime - every single person felt like family.

Emily Valsholz

For students considering studying for a New Screens semester, Emily Vasholz has an advice: 

The most important thing is to keep an open mindset. You will be able to discover so much more during the course and experience so much more in life - if you are able to take a chance and make spur-of-the-moment decisions.

Emily Valsholz

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