Written by Robyn Stalkie, Arts Career Strategist
Your path through Arts probably won’t be a straight line — most aren’t. You might be sorting out your schedule for next term, your major, or what life you want to build after graduation. Wherever you are, you’re in the right place to start. As Rumi wrote, “as you start to walk on the way, the way appears.”
That’s the idea behind the Arts Career Design Studio. Inspired by the book Designing Your Life, it’s built around creative tools that help you pause, reflect, and explore what energizes you, so you can start shaping a career and life that feel like your own.
Energy Mapping
One of the first ideas we explore in the Career Design Studio is simple but powerful: start where you are. Before you can make changes or set new goals, it helps to take an honest look at how things are going right now.
In the Studio, we do that through something called energy mapping. It’s a quick way to check in on four areas of your life:
- 🩵 Health: physical, mental, emotional or financial wellbeing
- 💼 Work/School: classes, jobs, or volunteer roles
- 🎨 Play: hobbies and fun
- 💜 Love: friends, family and community
Picture each of these like a fuel gauge, and take a minute to think about your own. Which ones feel full? Where might you be running on empty?
From fuel to future
When you look at your “energy map,” what stands out? Which areas feel full, and what might be running low? There’s no right answer here—the point is simply to notice. Seeing where your energy goes can help you understand what gives you fuel, and what drains you. Refilling your energy doesn’t have to mean making big changes. Try one small adjustment at a time:
- 🩵 Health: focus on one thing that restores you. That could be better sleep, a walk between classes, a home cooked meal, or a few minutes outside.
- 💼 Work/School: add a little play. Take a short break, do something creative, or connect what you’re learning to something that excites you.
- 🎨 Play: give yourself permission to do something just for fun. Join a club, explore somewhere new, or spend an afternoon doing what makes you feel like you.
- 💜 Love: reach out to people who make you feel grounded. Message a friend, grab coffee, or plan time with someone who refills your energy.
Keep Exploring
These are the kinds of questions we explore in the Arts Career Design Studio. The ones that help you notice what matters, and what that means for your next steps. You don’t have to have every answer, just a place to start… and a little curiosity about where your energy might take you next. ✨
Career Design Studio for International Students
📅 November 12, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 UBC Robson Square
💵 Free, but registration is required
Hi, I’m Robyn, Arts Career Strategist. Have questions or want to have a career conversation? Sign up to meet with me through CareersOnline by clicking the “Advising” tab at the top.
This blog post was originally inspired by Juliana de Souza, former Arts Career Strategist.
