Rika Uezono has loved art for as long as she can remember, but in Japanese society making a living as an artist isn’t really seen as a viable career. When Rika was accepted into a highly regarded Tokyo University and the promise of a respectable career with guaranteed work, to only then turn the opportunity down, friends and family were shocked – this simply wasn’t the done thing. Instead Rika came to the Gold Coast to study Tourism and Hotel Management at Griffith University, but even then she knew in her heart that this wasn’t the career she wanted. Rika desperately wanted to pursue design, but lacked the self-confidence to follow her dream until a spur of the moment decision saw her change faculties and ultimately her life. This is a story about not only following your heart, but finding the courage to go against the cultural expectations of your upbringing while throwing caution to the wind to find the self belief to pursue your dreams.
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