After attending three different schools and struggling to find her true passion, Erin Dobell came to Niagara College to embark on a new educational journey where she fell in love with graphic design. Throughout her whole life, Dobell struggled to find a balance for her love of art and math but through studying Graphic Design at NC, she is confident that she finally found the perfect fit.
During her time at NC, Dobell competed in the provincial and national Skills Competitions for graphic design and won gold at the provincial level and bronze at the national level.
As Dobell prepares to graduate from the Graphic Design program, she reflects on what drew her to NC and why she loved studying at the College.
How do you feel about your upcoming convocation day/what does it personally mean to you?
It feels like such an accomplishment to be finally graduating. I’ve been struggling for so long to find my passion and I’m so happy to have finally found something I quite enjoy and excel at. Graduation is a big step toward achieving my goals in life.
What were you doing before attending NC (did you enroll after high school, did you study at another postsecondary institution, or were you working)?
I tried three different schools and programs before going to Niagara College: McMaster University, Brock University, and Ontario Tech University. I studied engineering as well as neuroscience but decided these were not my true passions. I also worked fulltime to help pay for my education.
What led you to study at NC and to your program of study?
After trying three different programs and schools I was getting quite discouraged as I had yet to find something that really interested me and made me happy. I spent hours researching potential jobs and careers and eventually, I discovered graphic design. I honestly didn’t even know graphic design existed as a career until finding it through personal research. I found that a local school (Niagara College) offered a program, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try something new. I am so glad that I found the Graphic Design program at Niagara College. It has definitely changed the course of my life and I hope to achieve great things in the future.
What interests you in/why are you passionate about your field of study?
I’ve always had a strong love for art and math. These are things I always excelled at, yet they are so different. Art is subjective and uncertain, while math is exact and calculated. At first, I thought engineering would be the perfect combination of these two subjects, but after some experience and trial and error, I found that graphic design was a better balance.
I also enjoy how graphic design has such a wide variety of uses and can help people all around the world. It can have the largest impact on people without them even noticing, and good graphic design can sway people’s opinions and make change.
Do you have a specific career goal in mind when you enrolled in your program…did it change since you started?
I had no specific goals when I started at Niagara College, I was still experimenting with my likes and interests that I didn’t really have time to set career goals. I was also still new to the whole idea of graphic design and didn’t fully know what being a graphic designer entailed. Now after graduating, I’d like to be a creative director and have my own design business one day.
How did you find your program experience – any highlights? What did you find rewarding about your program/area of study? Does something stand out to you that you will never forget about your time at NC?
The program was great, I had the best teachers and learned so much from everyone. The teachers were so smart, and I truly felt like they wanted us to succeed and be our best selves.
I also enjoyed participating in the provincial and national Skills Competitions that the College helped me enter. It was very challenging but such a rewarding experience. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and pushed beyond my limits, in the best way. I learned a lot about how I work under pressure and how well I can work in new environments. It was such an amazing feeling to have been awarded the gold medal for all of Ontario and the Bronze medal for all of Canada. I have worked so hard to get here and it’s incredible to be recognized at such an established organization.
What’s next for you /are you working/ or working towards a career goal or are you planning to pursue further education?
I plan to get a junior-level position in graphic design where I can learn more about the design industry. Once I feel more confident in my abilities and in my knowledge of the industry, I may look for seniority or even start my own freelance business. Right now, I want to be continuously learning and am seeing where life takes me.
