Ama Josephine Budge Johnstone

Ama's time at Goldsmiths

I had a truly amazing time studying at Goldsmiths. Both my MA and elective lecturers were supporting, inspiring and rigorous. They not only challenged, pushed and stimulated my thinking and knowledge, they believed in me and were real about what I needed to do to achieve my academic goals within the academy and all the other ways I might develop and succeed in the wider world.

Apart from my wonderful lecturers, the most incredible part of my time there was being part of such a diverse cohort (both in my MA and in the wider school). I was the only Black student in my entire undergraduate university, so it really was an absolute joy to be surrounded by amazing students from all over challenging the institution and what care, inclusion and change could look and feel like within educational spaces.

Life after Goldsmiths

I'm currently in the final year of a PhD, I never would have thought I could attempt such a thing as a PhD before studying at Goldsmiths and learning to believe in my own ability to think and write expansively. The last year is always really hard but I love my topic of study and I believe it's really important.

I am also lecturing at several universities / art schools in London and abroad, as well as sustaining my own artistic practice. In the future I hope to continue pursuing my academic and artistic careers, becoming a better teacher, artist and writer in order to inspire and support others in the ways I was at Goldsmiths.

Advice for future students

The main piece of advice I'd give would be to really invest time and energy in the extracurricular stuff. Because I was a part-time student I was able to audit extra classes, attend many lecture series across a variety of departments, organise a conference and create work for a joint exhibition as part of my feminist methodologies elective.

I'd really encourage every prospective student to make the most out of the library (especially the women's library collection) and all of the incredible resources.

Life in South East London

Being in such a BIPOC-heavy community was wonderful, with great music venues, food and theatres all around. There are also a number of great parks where we would go for lunch or to sit and study.

My favourite place to eat has got to be Lao Khee (I think that's the name, it's been a while!) Chinese, opposite - I still come back here to eat whenever I can and maintain it's one of the best Chinese food spots in London.