Sara Varady

With this letter, I would like to express my strong interest in teaching Art in the United Arab Emirates. I wish to continue my graduate career with this fantastic opportunity, deepen my knowledge in the Arabic culture and at the same time, give back to the community by teaching Art. I am currently studying at Royal College of Art, which I wish to defer due to national lockdown in London.

In 2017, I received a full scholarship for the Summer School Program at the East China University of Science and Technology (Shanghai) and had one of the best time of my life. I was fortunate enough to learn basic Mandarin, traditional calligraphy and papercutting in Shanghai, where we were based for two months. Also, I was shown around in Hangzhou and Shenyang, where we have completed several projects in collaboration with Chinese students of the local Universities. At the end of the program, I organized a self-funded trip to Beijing and visited the Great Wall of China – it was enthralling. This summer experience has made me come to the realization of how diverse and exciting cultures can be and that there is so much to explore. As a result, after graduation, I relocated to China, and taught English for one year and Art for another year at Olive Tree International Academy. These amazing experiences greatly supported my dream to become an art tutor in a university in the future, and I believe that teaching in UAE would offer me the same. It would help me to establish a sustainable art practice and teach at university level in the future, where I hope to inspire and help other artists. Furthermore, I am also confident to say that I will gain new inspiration and ideas for my art during my stay in UAE.

Aside from my studies, I have worked in several roles where I have learned how to engage positively with a variety of people. On several occasions, I have led creative workshops for children (from the age of 6 to the age of 17) at summer camps in 2014 and later, in 2015, in the SZIGET festival where I was interacting with people of all ages. In 2016, I led the St. Monans Art Project, in which I organised and taught workshops for elderly people to create sellable craftworks. In 2017, I gave speeches about the Fine Art course in Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design as part of the Craigowl Primary School’s Careers Week. Since 2015, I have worked as a mentor with the ACES Project, a national government-funded programme based across the four art schools in Scotland. ACES support young people in their journey to take up creative courses at college and university, through practical workshops (such as life drawing and printmaking), experiences and portfolio support. In addition, as a student ambassador for the University of Dundee, I represent the University in formal events such as Open Days, Degree Shows and the Discovery Days. From these experiences, I have gained exceptional organization and communication skills, developed a strong responsibility and resilience under pressure.

Furthermore, during my two years of teaching in China, I developed a deep sense of empathy, patience towards others and a completely different worldview. I feel humble and grateful for all the opportunities that life offered to me and all the joy I felt while connecting to people.

Exploring a new culture fascinates me, encourages me to learn and improve my character. For these reasons, I came to Scotland to study Fine Art and completed a semester-long ERASMUS program in Valencia, Spain, and went to teach in China for 2 years. I would very much like to spend the next year in UAE to teach Art, learn about the culture while partaking in a highly meaningful employment experience.

Thank you for considering my request and I look forward to your positive response.

Yours faithfully,

Sara Varady