Becoming a fashion merchandising student at Ball State University was a long complicated route for me. Before graduating from high school I began researching my plans for continuing my educational career. I started looking at programs that sparked my interest and researched where I could to get started. I narrowed my list to something practical dental hygiene and something a little more creative fashion merchandising. After numerous conversations with my parents I enrolled at Ball State University to attended classes in fall 2005.
My freshman year wasn't exactly what I had imagined it not like what I'd seen in the movies about people going away to their first year of college. Instead of moving into the dorms I stayed at home and lived with my parents. They didn't see why it was such a big deal to live in the dorms or what experience I would gain. My major was pre-dental hygiene with hopes to apply to dental schools around Indiana.
I survived my freshman year after adjusting to the routine of an average college student's life. My sophomore year the courses got harder. The deadline to apply for hygiene programs was steadily approaching at the close of my fall semester. I got all of my requirements in order to submit them to the three dental programs I wanted to attend. Aside from the dental hygiene programs I also applied to the dental assisting programs of these schools. During college I worked at multiple retailers still involving myself in the world of fashion. It wasn't until my sophomore year of school I left my first retail job of three years at Dots. I left there to begin work at Charlotte Russe where I stayed for almost a year and half.
My acceptance letter from the dental hygiene programs never came I was actually declined permission to attend, but an acceptance letter did arrive from the dental assisting program. There is when I decided to make the move to Indianapolis, Indiana to begin the dental assisting program in the fall. My first big move from Muncie was actually going to happen.Dental assisting took over a majority of my life Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Still being an employee at Charlotte Russe I filed a transfer request to the downtown Indianapolis store. Walking around Circle Centre I came across my first ever Lucky Brand Jeans store this was where everything for me was about to change. I graduated from Indiana School of Dentistry in May 2008 after a long year of both school and work at Lucky Brand Jeans. Trying to sort out what I wanted to do after school I worked as a full time certified expanded dental assistant at a local office in Indianapolis.
My parents where not able to help me financially with school or cost of living therefore I was forced to move back to Muncie. My first semester back I was yet again a pre-dental major this time with hopes of attending Indiana School of Dentistry to become a dentist. I really had a passion for dentistry I found it quite interesting always something to learn more about in that field. Moving back to my hometown was not easy after adjusting to life away growing up experiencing new things for the first time coming back was a shock. I wasn't as happy as I had imagined being back in school this worried me very much. I'd always like school, but this time something was not right. After a long debate I came to the conclusion to change my major to fashion merchandising finally. In the beginning that is what I truly wanted to major in my parents were the main reason why I didn't when I was a freshman. They told me that a career in fashion is not practical and refused to pay my tuition. Since they already told me they could not help me academically I was footing the bill by taking out student loans.
I remember my first appointment with Dr. Leahy to discuss the change of majors. After that appointment I was on my way to pursing a career in fashion! Getting my schedule in order for the remainder of my time at Ball State was mind blowing. In order to complete this degree in the shortest time frame I would have to take eighteen credit hours. That's exactly what I have been doing ever since spring 2009. I've never been happier in my life about my decision I've made this will not be one that I'll ever regret. Defending my decision to my parents wasn't the easiest to do in the long run I think they will understand what fashion does for me. My grades have improved tremendously! My courses serve as a source to use my creative side while applying my experience from my retail jobs.
Highlights from spring 2009 to present day in the fashion merchandising program
- Attended a conference in Chicago
- Field Study trip to New York City
- Member of the Fashion Merchandising Association
- Actively participated in "Taking Care of Business" a fashion show
- Purchased my first sewing machine
- Constructed a button down, bubble skirt, sweat pants, tote bag, and a princess seam dress
- Retail Sales Internship at Nordstrom located in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Keystone Fashion Mall within the Via C, Collectors, St. John department
Expected graduation date: May 7th, 2011
Ultimate career goal: Personal stylist or buyer
