My Story

For a long time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. In high school, everything felt uncertain, like I was trying to figure out who I was without a clear direction. Choosing to attend a polytech school for commercial arts and advertising design was the first real step I took toward something that felt right. It gave me a creative outlet and, more importantly, a sense of confidence that I could build something for myself. That experience showed me that creativity was not just a hobby, it was something I could shape into a future.

When I came to college and started in fashion design, I thought I had it all figured out, but that quickly shifted. At the same time, I was dealing with something much bigger, moving away from home in New Jersey to Richmond. That transition was not easy. Being in a new place, away from everything familiar, pushed me out of my comfort zone in ways I was not prepared for. There were moments of doubt, loneliness, and questioning whether I made the right decisions. But those challenges forced me to grow. I had to learn how to trust myself, how to adapt, and how to keep going even when things felt uncertain.

Switching my major from fashion design to fashion merchandising was another leap of faith. It meant letting go of what I originally thought my path would be and being honest about what truly interested me. That decision shaped me in ways I did not expect. It helped me find a balance between creativity and strategy and gave me a clearer sense of where I fit within the industry. More than anything, it taught me that growth does not come from staying comfortable, it comes from being willing to change.

Now, as I prepare to attend graduate school abroad for my MBA, I can see how every step led me here. College became the place where I truly started to find myself and understand my passion. Through different experiences, challenges, and opportunities, I discovered what excites me and the kind of work I want to create and be part of. From feeling unsure in high school, to finding my voice in a polytech program, to navigating independence in a new city, each experience built on the last. Going abroad feels like the next chapter of that growth. It is exciting, a little overwhelming, but also a reflection of how far I have come. What once felt like uncertainty now feels like possibility, and I am stepping into this next phase with a stronger sense of who I am and what I am capable of becoming.