After transitioning from the arts to STEM, Rebecca Jeffries now creates virtual reality games from the ground up!
With the average person changing careers several times in their life, it’s important to keep an open mind about where your path might take you – that’s what Rebecca found when she realised life as a classroom teacher wasn’t satisfying her anymore.
After high school, Rebecca studied music and teaching before going on to work as both a teacher and as a keyboardist for community theatre groups. While she loved the creative side of both jobs, she found herself questioning how much longer she could do them for.
“I wanted my life to be more than just waiting for the weekends. At any moment, you can decide to become a different person – you’re not obligated to make decisions based on how other people perceive you,” Rebecca says.
Eventually, Rebecca took the leap and enrolled in a Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments majoring in animation at QUT. Her studies have allowed her to combine her love of writing with programming, art and constructing new virtual worlds.
Now in her third year, Rebecca recently created a virtual reality (VR) game from scratch! During her final semester, she plans to create another VR game that is adapted from a well-known riddle. She’s excited to tackle the interesting code needed to make the game work.
Rebecca says her QUT lecturers and tutors have been an important support network during her transition between careers.
Her advice to others starting out on a STEM pathway? “Stay curious and learn from a variety of sources. Stay earnest and tenacious. Ask ‘stupid’ questions. Don’t assume it won’t be given to you or that it’s not an option – ask anyway. And write everything down!”
Want to hear more tech study and career advice from Rebecca?
Join us for the STEM + X: Technology webinar, brought to you by QUT.
Rebecca will be one of the speakers in this webinar, and you’ll learn about how you can turn your interest in computer science, game development, and IT systems into a fulfilling career. Register here!
Rebecca’s path to becoming an animation student
- Bachelor of Music (Composition), Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University
- Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), QUT
- Classroom teacher
- Piano tutor
- Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments (Animation), QUT (ongoing)
This profile was brought to you in partnership with QUT, and a version of it appears in Careers with STEM Technology 2024.
