SCABs

So, how was your first week at SCA? – April 2021/22 Intake

Last week, 13 budding creatives joined the SCA ranks to create our April intake!

Kicking off their journey to becoming advertising creatives, hear what their first week at the School of Communication Arts was like as they embark on a year of ad’s, madness, and hard work.


Louise

Thrilled. Excited. Nervous. Up. Down. Frustrated. Motivated. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster that left me completely exhausted by the end of the week. Yet, I can’t wait to do it all again next week with all the amazing people I’ve met. It’s not that I enjoy feeling stressed or inadequate or that I’m at least seven steps out of my comfort zone. But as Marc said, everything is a process, and so, becoming a creative is too. I think the most successful processes are those that include feedback loops, so here are the learnings I’m taking with me:

  1. Don’t rush a task to make time for work – it shows.
  2. Find a better work/study balance – working until midnight is not sustainable.
  3. Use the mentors – they can save you time, frustrations and quite possibly tears too.

Agatha

This is absolute madness, in the best possible way. I feel like I’ve known my cohort for a million years already and that we have merged in an inexplicable way. I’m exhausted and energised at the same time, and I cannot wait for more. The week was tough, even more so as I have a child to look after and a full-time job – I know how to prioritise and get things done, yet nothing else seems more important than to hit and complete the deadlines we are set, and it feels amazing. It’s like being in a weird meditative and exhilarating trance.

I’ve learnt so much already and for the first time, in a very long time, it feels like I am in the right place, with all the right people and it feels really really good.

Bring. It. On.

Sam

So the first weeks up! And all I can say is that after day two I knew there was something special about this school. Therapy, poetry and comedy in one day! Everyone is so friendly and everyone comes together to make a vibrant atmosphere. I can tell the school is going to change the way I think and teach me how to be creative in the best way possible for me. I’ve learnt a lot already and can’t wait to soak up more knowledge from the mentors. This is the second time they have ever taken an April intake on. So this means you can gather knowledge from the students that are nearly done, I feel this is going to help so much with our work and it will help us get a head start. 

SCA Easter intake lets get it! 

Sarah

What a mad week. And we didn’t start until Tuesday.

No one really knew what the past four days would entail, but I think we were all prepared to get a bit weird. I had braced myself for a few ice-breakers, some introductory presentations and maybe a couple of creative tasks. I hadn’t quite expected to be doing such a deep dive into my psyche, and those of the students around me. 

All week we’ve been challenged to consider who we are as individuals, and how to communicate this in a range of imaginative and dynamic ways. How would we define our personality? What are we passionate about? What is our signature style? What are our favourite things? And even though I may have been on the cusp of an identity crisis the entire time, I actually this week has demonstrated how valuable it is to get really introspective – especially when it comes to creating. And through the process, I’ve learned so much about my cohort too. 

I was worried that I would be so busy with SCA that I wouldn’t always enjoy the work. But even in the most stressful moments this week, I’ve found myself eager to get stuck in above all else. In fact, I didn’t really want it to end. I think the key to motivation, and consequently great work, is definitely going to be found in the enthusiasm of the talented people around me. It’s contagious.

It looks like this is going to be my life for the next year – and I really can’t wait.

Charlie

I never thought it would be possible to feel simultaneously exhilarated and eager to be in again on Monday and yet to feel like I’ve been drop-kicked by a horse. After a year that has felt a little colourless for everyone the sheer explosion of life you get even by sitting around on a sofa at SCA is fantastic. I’ve never felt so creatively challenged and each day feels like an entirely fresh battle with entirely new rules. However, I feel like we’d all fight tooth and nail to have even a few more minutes of it each week. New people, new tutors, new briefs, it’s been life at hyper speed, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I’m so glad to have met everyone starting with me and everyone from Checkout. I found myself having conversations I’d never have dreamed of having with people I’d barely met and getting to know them better than I ever thought I would. Everything about this week has been dialled up to eleven and I’ve got home exhausted every day but it’s been rewarding, challenging, and positive in ways I could never have predicted and I’m just thankful that I get to do it all again from tomorrow.

Tope 

Like the saying goes ‘life is not a bed of roses’ and this course in the first week has definitely  been  challenging, it’s been great to see the range of different art forms and the various tasks that we have been set to showcase creativity.  

Ellie 

What a week! The excitement of a new adventure and lots of new people has given me such a buzz. I feel high & exhausted all at the same time. 

After what feels like a lifetime of lockdowns, it seems unfamiliar to suddenly meet so many new faces. I have really enjoyed that part of this week. I appreciated the different tasks set for us, most centred around getting to know a specific person from the group. I am surprised how easy it has been to chat to my cohort and how open we have been with each other already (despite the awkwardness of zoom).

I have an amazing feeling about the next year and can’t wait to learn more. 

Watching First Dates on Channel 4 (my guilty pleasure), it occurs to me. This first week has been like a wildly successful blind date. I’m left wanting so much more and dreaming about what the future might hold in store for us.

Lottie

My first week and first SCAB, I haven’t written a diary since I was 8 and writing about holding hands with Jack and Ben. Now I’m back at school, writing a diary just with no hand holding (only virtually). 

I kinda like it though. 

The first week has been a little intense, insightful, entertaining. I already feel like I’ve learnt a lot. 

Met some lovely people. Also really talented people. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen.

Magda

One word that describes my first week at SCA is “FOMO”. I missed most of the live lectures due to work so I didn’t really get a chance to connect with the other students. If I’m being completely honest, there were moments I wondered if I’ll be able to get the most out of the course. But those thoughts were silenced when I read the student notes and saw what they were working on. If that was just week 1, the rest of the year can only be the most amazing experience. There’s no way I’m not going to make the most out of this opportunity, it’s just not an option.

Hailee

Energy, what I am yearning for the most coming out of a year of lockdown, and what I absorbed so much in the first 0.8 week at the SCA. And most importantly, I feel the beginning of the change of energy within myself. 

The studio of SCA has a particular energy, it’s not spacious, but it feels very homey. It lets me fly off to spaces while keeping me grounded, connected and activated. Marc’s energy, where to even start, he is the ultimate power regenerator, hyper-regenerative, sustainable, and impactful. Each of the mentors gives me incredible energy, and I know that in the next year and more, I will go on and develop special learning experiences with each and everyone of them. I love all the energy I receive from every one of the CHECKOUTS. Mad, generous, vibrant, distinct, roof-flipping, delicious. Most importantly, everyone from our intakes, it’s the post first date moment, You are each so enigmatic to me, I can’t wait to find out more but also let our energy work in sync and amplification. 

As for myself, I thought to myself that there are parts of me that enrolled the SCA with the intention of going to a rehab. Throughout the years there’s been many things that I wanted to change, improve, practice, develop, activate within myself, and I find the safe space, the support, and the energy here to be able to mindfully grow.  

Jael

If I was to describe my first week in a few words, they would be ‘a breath of fresh air’! I haven’t been in school for years so it felt weird getting back into things. One thing I am enjoying is having the structure to my day as every day feels like it’s melted into one. The energy is AMAZING and I love how open everyone is! 

I don’t think I’ve ever written a diary entry so this is a bit weird, but I’m looking forward to documenting my journey. 

I’m looking forward to elevating, learning new things and working with amazing creatives.

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