Multimedia Arts is Not for the Weak: The Five Challenges I Face as an MMA Freshman

 

Multimedia Arts is not for the faint of heart. From a very young age, I’ve always loved crafting, painting, journaling, making vlogs, editing, and simply expressing my creativity. I was constantly praised for my art, even in high school, and it became a big part of my identity. Despite this, it never crossed my mind to pursue a degree related to the arts. I even took an entrance exam for a B.S. in Psychology and passed it—I was happy, and so was my family. But something inside me yearned for a different path. When I discovered the Multimedia Arts program, it immediately reawakened my inner child. I still remember my thoughts as a kid: buying a camera would solve 99 problems. I believe pursuing Multimedia Arts is worth sacrificing a life in science, as it covers many things related to what I’m truly passionate about. It took me a long time to convince my mom, as she thought the program was just about things like filming, photography, and art—things anyone can learn on their own without the need for formal schooling. After a tough debate, I finally persuaded her. Now, as of March 2025, I’m in my second semester of my freshman year, and the challenges I faced are still fresh. 

Here are the five main obstacles I’ve encountered and how I coped.

• Impostor Syndrome

Entering art school really made me feel like an impostor. I encountered tons of incredibly talented people around me, and I felt like I did not belong. I doubted my skills and wondered if I had made the right decision.

How I Coped: I reminded myself that everyone starts somewhere. Instead of comparing my journey to others, I focused on improving my skills, learning from my peers, and embracing growth overall.

• Time Management

Since I now live independently and away from home, I have to manage academics and a life alone. The sudden responsibility of handling everything—schoolwork, household chores, and personal time—became overwhelming. At times, I found myself still on my laptop at 3 a.m. just to keep up with deadlines. 

How I Coped: I learned to set realistic schedules and practiced maximum productivity instead of procrastinating.

• Creative Burnout

The workload is really overwhelming, and as someone who gets overstimulated easily, I often find myself drained. At times, I felt like I couldn’t keep up with everything—schoolwork, projects, and the pressure to perform well in a competitive environment.

How I Coped: I took breaks, performed self-care, caught up with friends, watched movies, and did anything that would reawaken my creative spirit. A lot can happen in an hour, so I always value these kinds of breaks.

• Adapting to New Skills and Technology

As someone who never had any experience with Adobe software, I was legitimately intimidated and confused at first. Suddenly, I was faced with a suite of complex tools essential for multimedia arts, and it felt like I was learning a whole new language.

How I Coped: I’m originally shy when it comes to asking for guidance, but I took the courage to seek my peers’ help, followed tutorials online, and practiced at home (using cracked software because I’m a broke student for now, haha!).

• High Costs

MMA is not a budget-friendly program to pursue. From expensive software to camera equipment and art materials, I quickly realized that the costs added up. As someone who is living independently, it is undeniably hard and frustrating.

How I Coped: I learned how to be resourceful and wise with my budget. Even though I wanted something for myself, like cute new clothing, I had to put my needs first—prioritizing my school supplies and necessary equipment.

I’ve encountered many challenges that sometimes make me forget the reason I started—that make me wonder what my life would have been like if I had never taken this program. At times when I feel like giving up, I pause and remember all the choices I’ve made just to be here. We all start somewhere, and the next thing we know, we’re where we’re supposed to be—happy and thriving. Let's craft a career around what we love.

“What, like it’s hard? ”— Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

Are you also facing similar challenges in your journey? Let me know how you’ve navigated your own path in multimedia arts—or any creative field! Share your experiences, tips, or thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to maybe follow for more insights and stories as I continue my journey through the ups and downs of being an MMA student!