My Academic and Scholarly Achievements (eng) / Mine akademiske og videnskabelige præstationer (dk)

Throughout my life, succeeding academically has been deeply important to me—a way to find stability and purpose amid the uncertainty and challenges of growing up in a home marked by violence and abuse.

When I was just 4 or 5 years old, I was diagnosed in Poland with severe dyslexia across all areas. In that environment, such a diagnosis often led to being treated differently—in ways that were isolating and discouraging. No one believed I would achieve anything. That time in my life was not easy, but I chose to use it as fuel to find strength within myself.

I read. I read endlessly. Slowly, I improved. And within just a year or two—despite what people had said—I became one of the top students, both in school, in music, and wherever else I applied myself. I learned how to work hard. I trained myself to stay disciplined, to keep growing, and never give up.

Then, unexpectedly, we moved to Denmark. It was sudden. I had no choice in the matter, and I knew nothing about the country, the language, or the culture. It was overwhelming. But I refused to let this stop me.

I made a decision: I would learn the language, and I would do it quickly enough to enter a regular Danish school class as soon as possible. And I did. I completed the entire Danish primary school system in just one year—and learned the language along the way.

It was one of the hardest transitions I’ve faced, but I never let go of my dream to keep learning, to keep developing, to keep becoming someone I could be proud of.

Since I was very young, literature and art have been my refuge and my inspiration. Through them, I’ve learned how to live—and who I want to be. They helped me find myself when everything else felt uncertain, and over time, that connection has grown into a passion that now guides me forward.

In the most difficult moments for my family, it was art, music, and stories that gave me ideas, hope, and a sense of direction. Through them, I learned how to bring light into dark times—not just for myself, but for others too.

Below, you can see my timeline of key achievements and milestones—academic, artistic, and personal.

This overview focuses on what I accomplished alongside the degree I was taking, rather than listing the schools attended. For a full academic timeline and detailed context, please refer to my LinkedIn profile.

2005–2007 | Private Music Education

• 🎻 Began violin training at a private music school.
• Developed foundational skills in classical music and performance discipline.

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2008–2014 | Grażyna Bacewicz Music School (1st Level), Poland

• 🎻 Regular violinist in duos, quartets, and school orchestra.
• Participated in numerous concerts, including local recitals and regional showcases.
• 🎼 Member of the school choir.
  • Selected to represent the school in national and international choir performances.
  • Participated in official school choir recordings distributed regionally.
• 🏆 Winner – Classical Music Performance Competition
  • Awarded Best Performance of a Baroque Piece.

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2009 | Literary Competitions (Poland)

• 📜 1st Place – Regional Poetry Competition
  • Recognized for creative writing and poetic expression.
• 🎤 1st Place – Regional Poetry Slam Contest
  • Praised for originality, performance skills, and personal voice.

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2010 | Academic Distinction – Szkoła Podstawowa w Sernikach Wroclawekisch

• 🏅 Awarded “Czerwony Pasek” (Red Stripe)
  • Highest academic honor in Polish primary school.
  • Recognized for top academic results and exemplary behavior.

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2011 | Talent Recognition – School Competition

• 🎻 1st Place – Music Category (Violin)
  • Winner of school-wide talent contest.

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2012 | Continued Academic Achievement

• 🏅 Awarded “Czerwony Pasek” again
  • For sustained academic excellence and leadership.
• 🎓 Top Academic Scholarship Recipient
  • Given to the highest-performing student of the year.

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2015 | Language Integration & Artistic Growth – Denmark

• 🌍 Learned Danish within one year of immigration.
• 🏫 Successfully transitioned from integration class to district-level academic class.
• 🖼 Nominated – Best Painting
  • Selected for exhibition at Aarhus City Hall.
• 🎼 Composed and performed original piece for choir, violin, and piano.
  • Performance held at Musikhuset Aarhus.

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2016–2017 | Højer Design Efterskole – Graphic Design

• 🎨 Entered without prior design experience.
• 📚 Achieved grade 12 (highest possible) in Graphic Design.
  • Demonstrated rapid adaptability, technical learning, and creative execution.

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2017–2021 | Work Experience – Aarhus & Viborg

• 🍽 Worked as waitress and bartender in both cities.
  • Built strong interpersonal, time-management, and customer service skills.

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2021 | Midtbyens Gymnasium – Academic & Leadership Excellence

• 🏅 Awarded Academic and Engagement Scholarship
  • For high academic performance, student council leadership, and personal growth.
  “Julia has consistently distinguished herself both academically and socially… highly deserving of this recognition.”
• 🎓 Achieved the highest possible grade (12) in the Danish Studentereksamen (equivalent to a high school diploma or college preparatory degree)

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2021 | VUR – Communication & Creative Production

• 📢 Created professional visual and communication content for Viborg Ungdomsråd (Youth Council).
  • Materials are still in use today.
  “Hardworking, energetic, and creative – highly independent and responsible.”

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2021 | Events & Internship Experience

• 🎉 Marketing & Social Media Lead – Vibstock and Connectival youth festivals.
• Full time Bartender in Aarhus (Night club and Cafe/ Restaurant)
• 👩‍💼 Internship – Paletten Cultural House, Viborg
  • Position extended due to outstanding performance.
  “Julia brings energy, creativity, and innovation to every project… Her standout achievement was creating a successful youth-targeted campaign.” – Peter Ramsdal, Paletten

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2022 | Academic Expansion & Leadership

• 📚 Completed French A-level as part of upper secondary education.
• 🎤 Head of Communication – Viborg Metal Festival 2022
  • Led external communication and online presence for the festival’s first sold-out edition.
• 🎓 Started BA in Aesthetics & Culture at Aarhus University.
• 🏛 Founder – Kasernerådet (Kasernen Student Council)
  • Established and chaired the council at AU Kasernen.
• Joined Ung Kult: Became a supplementary board member, and helped with graphic design, website, and logo of UNG KULT.
• 🎸 Joined band and began working as a cultural consultant.

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2023 | Design & Professional Development

• 🎓 Began studies in Event Management
  Enrolled in Innovative Event Management to further strengthen my skills in cultural production and event coordination.
• 🎨 Brand Identity Design – NOVA SALON
  Designed the full logo and visual identity for NOVA SALON, a hair studio in Viborg, combining aesthetics with brand storytelling.
• My First Art Show Ver Loretras (look into “my art” section to read more about it)
• 📣 Project Leader & Marketing Coordinator – Paletten
  Took on an expanded role at Paletten, leading projects while managing social media, marketing, and communication strategies.
• 🌱 Founder – Ung På Paletten
  Initiated and developed Ung På Paletten, a youth-centered cultural project aimed at engaging young people in Viborg with music, events, and creative spaces.
  Also contributed to improving the venue’s communication accessibility and outreach strategy.

2024 | Major Events & Internships

• 🏨 Internship at Bühlmann’s Hotel under hotel manager Natasja Icaca Madsen.
• Founded Kulturambassadører Viborg
• 📱 Social Media Team Member – Aarhus Festuge 2024
  • Assisted with content creation and audience engagement.
• ✍️ Began work on Bachelor Thesis in Aesthetics & Culture.

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2025 | Creative Projects & Publishing

🎼 Composer & Performer – Duo with Johan Gabriel
Performed at Kulturmødet Mors as part of a performative debate on classical music and its relevance today. (See more under Projects)

📖📖 First Book Publication – Unge til Livemusik
A creative and research-driven work exploring youth engagement with live music culture.

💻 Personal Website
Designed, written, and programmed independently to showcase portfolio, creative work, and ongoing projects.

🎤 Project Leader – Vibstock Festival
Took on the role of project leader, overseeing programming, partnerships, and youth engagement initiatives. (See more under Projects)

📖 Became a research student for Kulturens Selvstændige & Dansk Live, exploring:

“Hvad er vækstlaget og Hvem er vækstlaget?”

🤝 Collaborations with Paletten & Viborg Kommune
Organize and participate and fundraise for public debates at SPOT+ and Kulturmødet Mors, focusing on youth in the creative music industry. (See more under Projects)

🌟🏆  Art Beat Nomination – Spireprisen 2025
Nominated for Spireprisen 2025, one of Denmark’s leading awards for emerging cultural talents. The prize honors innovative approaches to cultural communication and audience engagement. My nomination highlights my work with youth-driven projects and inclusive cultural spaces that rethink how culture is created, shared, and experienced.

“.. Perhaps my timeline doesn’t fully reveal the challenges I’ve overcome or the background I come from — but that’s been a conscious choice, as I’ve always prioritized building a future defined by strength and stability, rather than by struggle...” (eng)

(pl) „..Być może moja oś czasu nie ukazuje w pełni wyzwań, które pokonałam, ani środowiska, z którego się wywodzę — ale to był świadomy wybór, ponieważ zawsze stawiałam na budowanie przyszłości opartej na sile i stabilności, a nie na trudnych doświadczeniach…”

– Julia Choma