From rural Poland to Plymouth: Aleks’ journey from Making Change to Extended BA and BA (Hons) Textile Design

<p dir="ltr">“My journey to Plymouth is probably one of the more unusual ones,” Aleks says. “I spent part of my childhood in rural Poland, then the US before returning to Poland as a teen. I grew up rurally, spending most of my childhood outside, running around unsupervised with our cousins and local kids, riding horses and eating fruit straight from the trees.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After finishing school she secured a place at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, “one of the oldest universities in the world”, but the path still did not feel quite right.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I never truly felt like I figured out what I wanted to do in life,” she explains. “Having tried a few previous degrees and various employment routes I felt I needed a radical change, as nothing felt right. I knew I wanted to complete a degree and felt curious about exploring my creative side, which was something completely foreign to me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A chance encounter with a tourist from Plymouth led to a spontaneous move to the UK. Four years later, still searching for the right fit, Aleks attended an Open Day at Arts University Plymouth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Attending an open day at Arts University Plymouth opened my eyes to the creative possibilities and degrees I never knew existed, setting me down a new path.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">That new path began with <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undefined/making-change-2026"><strong>Making Change</strong></a>, Arts University Plymouth’s free two–week course designed to help people explore art, design or media, build a portfolio and gain confidence for higher education.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Making Change lived up to its name in my case, marking a pivotal moment in my creative journey,” Aleks says. “I had very little art experience prior, not having done any in school or as a hobby. I embraced the experimentation, letting go of inner perfectionism and started enjoying the process rather than focusing on the end result.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Those first days in the studio were a complete leap into the unknown.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was the first time I had used charcoal or an easel. Everything we tried was new to me, which was challenging, but by day 3 I was in love. I had never experienced a studio environment and felt right at home in the Arts University Plymouth atmosphere.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Being amongst a group of like minded people filled me with inspiration and cemented my desire to study at Arts University Plymouth. Going from never drawing with charcoal, to creating pieces I am proud of in a span of six sessions boosted my confidence and made me feel ready to take on university.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Aleks now urges anyone who is curious but unsure to consider Making Change: “I progressed onto the Extended BA, which has been the best year of my life, and it all started with Making Change.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">During Making Change, Aleks met tutor <strong>Helen Markes</strong> and discovered the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undefined/level-0-extended-degrees"><strong>Extended BA</strong></a> – a four-year degree route beginning with a preparatory year designed to build confidence through broad creative exploration.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The course itself was the turning point for me,” she recalls. “My decision to join was cemented after meeting Helen Markes and learning about the Extended BA. I wanted to build my experience and confidence, so having an explorative year was exactly what I needed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Although I could have never predicted exactly how amazing and transformative it would end up being, definitely the best year of my life.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">“As I had been living in the UK for seven years I was culturally well adjusted when starting university,” Aleks explains. “Arts University Plymouth has a large mature student population, especially on the Extended BA, so I quickly settled in with some of my older peers and found my place engaging in the wider community through being a Student Representative and Student Ambassador.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A brief wobble during Welcome Week soon passed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“However, that all melted away once we started engaging in the work.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Being a mature student comes with loads of perks, bringing in experience and confidence from your previous endeavours. Having been in employment highlights the privilege and pleasure it is to study, in a way I couldn’t appreciate at 19.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">“The Arts University Plymouth community is a unique environment, being small and 100% creative,” she says. “I have never felt such an intense sense of belonging and acceptance in social settings. The calm and confidence instilled in me here has spread out into my personal life.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a Student ambassador I love working behind the scenes and meeting people from all courses and levels.”</p> <p>In 2025 Aleks received two <strong>Kindness Awards</strong>, something she describes as “extremely moving and heartwarming”. The Students’ Union called her “an impactful and consistently kind presence… a valued and uplifting force.”</p>

<p dir="ltr">“I have definitely grown to appreciate Plymouth more than I did initially,” she says. “There is great potential to get involved in whatever your heart desires. The growing grassroots and independent scene, the ability to connect with artists, makers and performers has been invaluable.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She cites <strong>The Box</strong> as a major creative influence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Engaging with The Box talks and artists’ visits flagged my passion for curatorship and conservation and showed me its viability as a profession.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have experienced things I would have never had a chance to in Poland and I believe it has shaped me into a kinder, inquisitive and understanding person.”</p> <p><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">“I am excited about the wide variety of skills and techniques we will be introduced to,” she says. “I have always been fascinated by fabrics, stitching and colour and we have such amazing facilities to explore that in depth.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The thing I am most enticed by is the conceptual opportunities textiles provide, intersecting many social issues. I feel textiles are a historical record of civilization, providing untapped commentary on social values and aesthetics.”</p> <p><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">“Be around and be open minded… experiment with facilities that are not part of your course, make connections, get to know the staff.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ask a lot of questions, come to private views and embrace your mistakes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dropping out or changing course is not a failure… get informed about your options, ditch the imposter syndrome, be scared, and do it anyway.”<br /></p>