Alumni testimonial Ainsley Shaw, BA Arts and Culture

Could you tell more about your exchange? 
I decided to go on exchange to Rome. Even though I was already technically studying abroad, the opportunity to “double it”, so to speak, felt too good to pass up. I had visited Rome before and completely fallen in love with the city, so when I saw that I could study at La Sapienza, it felt like the perfect choice.

Studying there was truly an unforgettable experience. I was able to take different courses from those offered at my home university. At the same time, I had the chance to immerse myself in a new and unfamiliar culture.

Looking back, what are the things you learned during your studies that truly help you in your current career/experiences/personal life?
Looking back, I think the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach had the biggest impact on me. It improved my public speaking skills and helped me become much more of a self-starter. Because classes and assignments were largely student-led, I also developed strong collaboration skills and learned how to give and receive constructive feedback in a meaningful way.

Writing my thesis and completing two honours programmes (the Interfaculty Honours+ Programme and the FASoS Honours Programme) taught me how to manage several projects at the same time without letting quality slip. That experience really strengthened my organisational skills and resilience.

All of these skills continue to support me, both professionally and personally. They have boosted my confidence and encouraged me to constantly think critically, generate ideas, and ask questions.

Could you tell us more about your current career? 
I currently work as a bookseller and content creator for Lioness Books, an independent mobile second-hand bookshop. We partner with local businesses and travel throughout the greater Austin area with the aim of promoting literacy, fostering a love of reading, reducing waste, and giving back to our community. Because we accept donations of used books, we are also able to support local non-profit organisations such as Inside Books, which provides literature to people who are incarcerated in Texas. In addition, we run a Free Book Cart initiative and donate to and maintain a Little Free Library for the community each quarter.

As for my role, I work in the bookstore, manage the social media accounts, produce digital content, write monthly newsletters and blog posts, and curate monthly booklists in adherence to a theme such as Women’s History Month. I also correspond with local authors, artists, non-profits, and businesses to create community partnerships, share their work on our blog and socials, and collaborate on events. 

I’m very proud of the work I do for Lioness Books, because we strive to support our local community and I get to contribute to the literary world.

What is your fondest memory from your time here in Maastricht as a student at FASoS? 
My fondest memories from being a student at FASoS were the ones I shared with the lifelong friends I made. From staying late at the university’s library to taking a break in the park to having a coffee at Banditos. I met so many wonderful people to spend my time with and make the most out of my time in Maastricht. In particular, I loved having the opportunity to collaborate on creative projects at FASoS such as the FASoS Garden Party with my Honours team.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your time in Maastricht? Although Maastricht is small, it allowed me to build a very strong sense of community. It brought me something particularly special that I don’t think would have been the same if I went to university in a big city.

February 2025