Class of 2024: Koushiki Chowdhury

Koushiki Chowdhury’s Essex experience has helped her grow professionally and personally and, with a year working at the Walt Disney Company, and a degree in BA (Hons) Film Studies and Literature, she’s confident she has the skills to find the perfect job in the creative industries.

Koushiki, from Kolkata, India, chose Essex because of its “welcoming environment and supportive staff” and a campus that “felt like a home away from home”.

Speaking about her choice of degree, she said: “I’ve always been captivated by the blend of my two passions – books and films. Essex offered a unique degree that brings these two mediums together, giving me a broader and deeper understanding of both.”

Adapting to British university life was a challenge, but it has also given Koushiki the skills she needs to succeed: “I initially found the freedom and emphasis on independent learning and trusting my own opinions for assignments quite challenging but over the years I developed my abilities,” she said.

“This experience has fundamentally changed how I approach my work now, and I’m grateful for the growth it has brought. Moreover, my four years in the UK have also moulded me into a more resilient and capable individual. I owe much of who I am today to my time at Essex,” she added.

Driven by a desire to gain practical skills in the industry where she wants to work, Koushiki spent a placement year as a creative intern at Disney+ team where she supported the development of new television shows and documentaries.

She describes the experience as “truly incredible and exceeding all my expectations.”

As well as helping her develop useful contacts, the most memorable experience was seeing shows that she supported, like The Full Monty and Camden, reach completion and become available for streaming.

Koushiki, who also worked as a student ambassador during her time at Essex, credits all her lecturers in the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies for helping her to grow and succeed but singles two out for special praise.

“Dr Sarah Smyth has been a constant support, and has taught me to be kind, to ask questions, to enjoy what I am doing, and to never be afraid of learning new things,” she said.

“Professor Shohini Chaudhuri has been more than just a teacher; she has been a mentor, and I am blessed to have her in my network,” she added.

Koushiki, who is keen to work in film, television or media, said of studying at Essex: “It deepened my understanding of my dreams and provided a platform to explore and build a creative portfolio.”

“The sense of community at Essex encourages you to take one step at a time, build your personality, and gives you the freedom to be who you want to be,” she added.