Annie Dickerson, the winner of this year’s Women in Games scholarship, is already deep into her first term in the one-year Game Design program.

Announced at Game Design Expo 2010, the full-tuition scholarship initiative aims to encourage and support women in the game industry by singling out one passionate and talented gamer for intensive training at VFS.

Annie has been documenting her experiences in the program so far, as well as her thoughts and insights into the game industry, through her frequently updated blog. Be sure to check it out!

The former “Teach for America” educator graciously gave us a quick update about how things are going.

You’re a few weeks into your first term in Game Design at VFS. What are your impressions?

Annie: Most days I leave my house at 8am and don’t get home until after 10pm. Fourteen hours may seem like a long time, but it always goes by in a flash. The days are filled with interesting lectures, thought-provoking discussions, and skill-building activities. All of the assignments are designed to push us and help us gain relevant industry experience. Best of all is the people I get to go through this experience with. Our class is incredibly diverse, with people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Within four short weeks, we’ve all become great friends. With such awesome peers and terrific teachers, I’m sure that this year will be filled with crazy workloads, tons of creative brainstorming sessions, and lots of laughs.

How are you adjusting to living in Vancouver?

Annie: My husband and I drove across the country from Washington, DC to Vancouver in late May. It didn’t take long for us to fall head-over-heels in love with the city. With sushi restaurants on every corner, festivals every weekend, and a variety of outdoor activities to try, there’s never a dull moment. The people here are all really friendly, and living four blocks from the beach isn’t too bad.

What are you most looking forward to in the coming terms?

Annie: As I look through all the classes coming up in the next few terms, I can’t help but be amazed. On the surface, game design seems so simple, yet it can be broken down into so many different components. I’m loving the theory and art classes so far, largely because they’re within my comfort zone, though I’m looking forward to digging into the technical side of game design. Most of all, I’m excited to learn more about myself through this process as I work with different people and take on new challenges.

Thanks, Annie. Good luck this term!

Click here to visit Annie’s Game Design blog, “Play by Play.”