What do you get a best friend who’s moving to Tokyo? For Caitlin Farrell — Richmond BA Psychology graduate, Oxford postgraduate, and now published author — the answer was a hand-painted, self-published book. After a semester abroad at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, Caitlin knows better than most what it means to be far from home. We sat down with her to hear how those experiences planted the seeds for her creative journey, personal growth, and academic success.
What did you study at Richmond, and what first drew you to that subject?
I studied BA Psychology with Combined Studies. I’d taken Psychology at A-level and loved it, but when it came to applying for university I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do. My interests have always centred around people — how we relate to one another, how we think, why we behave the way we do. Starting at an international university, with so much diversity in the room, added a whole new layer to those questions. Psychology felt like the most fitting course, especially at Richmond where I could really get the most out of it.
And why Richmond specifically?
BA Psychology is wonderfully broad. I took electives in neuroscience, psychodynamic analysis — being able to explore so many things within one subject meant I didn’t have to commit to one path right away. That freedom was really important to me.
One of the big reasons why I chose Richmond is I felt drawn to how small and international the community was. I remember coming to visit and thinking: I could transfer to the US, study abroad in Italy or Australia — the options felt endless. I had a feeling that by choosing Richmond I was opening up more choices for myself. When you choose Richmond, you have the freedom to change your mind about your path, which isn’t something many universities offer. Elsewhere, so much is decided for you before you even arrive.
Looking back, which parts of your Richmond experience had the biggest impact on you?
Some of the friendships I made at Richmond are still really important to me. When I went to Australia, I became close with ten American girls — and I’m actually going to one of their weddings this summer! That was only possible because of Richmond’s Study Abroad programme. The study abroad advisor was incredibly supportive in helping me make it all happen, and I’m so grateful for that.
Tell us about your book — where did the idea come from?
I actually created it for a friend. In 2024, my best friend took a teaching job in Tokyo, and I had no idea what to get her as a leaving gift. She had never moved away from home before, but I had — so I knew exactly what it felt like.
The worst part is being awake in the middle of the night with all these worries, and you just want to call someone but you can’t. So I wrote down all the worries I imagined she might have, and all the things I’d want to say — not to fix anything, just to be there for her. Then I painted 60 hearts and turned it all into a book.
That’s a beautiful idea. How did it come together?
We all know what a heart to heart is — that intimate, honest conversation — but no one had trademarked the idea in this way before, so I did! I taught myself how to make a book, coded my own handwriting into a font, and illustrated every heart myself. My background is in psychology, not art — but that was never really the point. It’s not therapy or self-help. It just offers the feeling of presence you get when you’re having a real heart to heart.
And why publish it, rather than keep it just for her?
I kept thinking about how international Richmond was, and how many students and people around the world find themselves in exactly this situation. The book is designed as a gift — something you give to a friend who’s heading somewhere new. It felt selfish to keep it to myself!
This is the first in a series I hope to build around the life transitions we all have to navigate as adults.
Were there specific moments from Richmond or your time abroad that directly inspired your writing?
Whenever I talk about my undergraduate experience, the thing I can’t stop talking about is the value of a Liberal Arts education — it’s what truly sets Richmond apart from other UK universities. I honestly believe that the Liberal Arts approach is what made me as adaptable and flexible as I am today.
How so?
Richmond instils this confidence that you can just try anything. Right now I’m teaching myself animation — and it’s that Richmond attitude that makes me believe I can apply myself to things outside my comfort zone. You could experiment with electives, take minors outside your degree, explore things you’d never considered.
You’re now studying at Oxford – how did your time at Richmond help prepare you for this next academic chapter?
Liberal Arts taught me how to hold a conversation with almost anyone, in almost any situation. That sounds like a simple thing but it’s so important especially in high-pressure academic environments. My research now is interdisciplinary, relating to therapy, AI and technology — and I draw on so much of what I explored at Richmond. I remember taking a philosophy class, studying architecture and art, presenting as part of assignments, volunteering. Each of those things gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone, to try something new for the first time.
Any other Richmond moments that have stayed with you?
I did an online internship at the end of my degree, this was during Covid, and it turned out to be really formative. I had to put together reflections on my experience, and years later, after I’d started at Oxford, the person I interned for actually reached out to me for help with her research. Richmond gave me the space to push myself and grow in ways that didn’t stop at graduation.
Finally — what’s one piece of advice you’d give every Richmond student?
Study abroad if you possibly can. And beyond that: make the most of the optional electives, you never know what might grow out of the seeds planted in those classes, through interests picked up or connections made. Richmond isn’t a high-pressure environment, which is genuinely healthy, but it means the opportunities are there for the taking. Don’t wait for someone to point you towards them. Choose for yourself.
And talk to people. Richmond is truly international, and the connections you make there? They’re for life.
Caitlin’s book, Heart to Hearts from a Distance, is available for purchase. You can follow her journey on www.hearttoheartsbook.com. If Caitlin’s story has inspired you to make the most of your time at Richmond, find out more about our Study Abroad programmes here.
