Meet interior design major Leah Leonard

Written byAshley McClure-French

鈥淭he day I decided that interior design was where I wanted to be was the first time I actually felt excited for college.鈥

Leah Leonard is an interior design student at the 青青草视频.
Leah Leonard
Major
Interior Design
Hometown
Breaux Bridge, La.

Where I'm From

I鈥檓 from Breaux Bridge, La., where I grew up in a house that was constantly under renovation.

Where I Am

I鈥檓 an interior design major working on designing an adult literacy center.

Where I'm Going

I鈥檓 planning to become an independent interior designer.

Leah Leonard was happy to find that she didn鈥檛 have to move away from home to attend a great interior design program

鈥淚 chose UL Lafayette because it is close to home and moving away wasn鈥檛 really an option,鈥 she said. 

Leah鈥檚 first consideration was to major in biology, 鈥渂ut it never felt right for me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 grew up in a home where it was constantly under construction and being remodeled because my dad was so passionate about it and always wanted to try new things. Growing up around that definitely influenced my passion for interior design.鈥

"The day I decided that interior design was where I wanted to be was the first time I actually felt excited for college," she said.

With the ultimate goal of being an independent interior designer, Leah wants to start practicing right out of school. 

鈥淢aybe I will start with a few internships for a couple of years then go out on my own,鈥 she said, 鈥渂ut I鈥檒l just go with the flow until then.鈥

For now, Leah treasures her studio classes. 

鈥淚 truly believe that without that initial studio class, I would not be the person I am today. Even continuing into my sophomore year, studio is still my favorite class,鈥 she said. "Studio classes are overall super beneficial and probably the most fun I have had in college."

As an interior design major, Leah's getting valuable professional experience.

鈥淐urrently, I am designing an adult literacy center in my studio class,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so interesting to be thrust into a situation and environment that you don鈥檛 really think about often. I鈥檓 learning things that I never knew about literacy and the problems that many adults have with it today.

"This project is providing insight for me that helps me not only as a designer but just as a human being in general.鈥

Leah says her experience at UL Lafayette has boosted her confidence, helped her make friends, and connected her with the local culture in a way she never had before. 

鈥淓ven though I grew up in the area,鈥 she said 鈥淚鈥檝e never really engaged with the culture. But UL Lafayette definitely changed that.

鈥淭he interior design program has made me so confident,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 can engage in great conversations, take criticism, make new friends like it鈥檚 nothing, and I can even say that it has humbled me."

"I personally feel like those are all good values and skills to have as an interior designer and my experiences have elevated those things for me," she said.

She gives this advice to future interior design students: 鈥淵ou have to stick it out. If I would have dropped out all the times that I said I was going to after a bad day, then I would have missed out on incredible opportunities and self-discovery. 

鈥淢y professors have pushed me to what felt like my breaking point, but I鈥檝e always come out stronger than before,鈥 Leah explained. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 really difficult, good! Learn and grow from those experiences because I鈥檝e found that those rough patches have always made me a better student and future designer.

鈥淚鈥檝e met wonderful people,鈥 she said, 鈥渢raveled to different states, and learned so many things I never thought I would know. I can confidently say I鈥檝e grown as an individual thanks to this program. It鈥檚 hard for me to imagine studying anywhere else.鈥

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