This is my year to Sparkle

That's my 2016 mantra, this is my year to sparkle. Thanks goes to my mom for that one. On New Years morning I came down to breakfast to find a card and little gift from my parents where the theme was this new mantra. The incredibly supportive and touching message inside the card and the gift were a nod to the amazing things that I will do for myself this year, the number one being following my dreams, and going back to school!

 

That's right, I am officially a graduate student! I am beyond happy to start this new journey at my alma mater. For years I have been personally conflicted about what I want to do with my life since moving with my fashion degree wasn't in the cards. I never quite felt like I was ready to say goodbye to Ursuline, and I desperately missed it the first couple of years in the real world. I was lucky to get out of retail and get a good position at the law firm, but my heart was missing something. After much soul searching, a pep talk from my inspirational fashion professor, and my parents full blessing, I started the road to applying for grad school, where I begin classes this January with a focus on teaching fashion at the college level!!!

 

I can recall it like it was yesterday, I was at my first job interview after graduation and the store manager said, "be honest, what is your dream job? and it doesn't have to be here" and I replied "my dream job is to teach fashion at the college level." Plain and simple I knew, but it took me while to figure out how to make that dream start to come true. When I told a few people my thoughts, their response was "wow that's tough" or "your brave" but I've always loved college (high school was no greater than a prison to me, college was where I blossomed) and going back no matter what age, time away, or curriculum changes there was didn't even faze me. It wasn't easy getting to this point, but I am happy to say that in 2016, I am chasing my dreams.

 

As I get older I realize that I don't take things for granted like I used too and know a blessing when I see one. I cannot even put into words how happy I am to be doing this for me. I am taking charge, going after what I want, to ultimately do what I want: share the amazing industry of fashion with others who share my fierce love of it.

 

Here's to chasing your dreams, and making them work for you. Here's to sparkling in 2016.

xo