As I write this, I think to myself, "What the heck am I doing? This is crazy, isn't it? Am I really doing this". As I hit send on my FIT application, I realize that there is no turning back. The fact of the matter is, while my Wall Street job is probably what most people think I should be doing, I know what I was truly meant to do.
I am the second child of Nigerian immigrants. What does that mean, you may ask? That means that a career in fashion is not an option. "If you want to make money in America, you must be a doctor, lawyer, or banker." That is what I was supposed to do otherwise my education will not have been paid for. Little did they know I would find my way into the fashion world, one way or another.
My interest in fashion started at an early age. While other little girls begged for the latest Barbie Doll or doll house, I prayed eagerly every day for the latest patent leather shoes or party dress for the upcoming school play I'd be starring in. My interest turned into a full fledged love affair as I got older. In college, I altered my own clothes to put my own personal flair on it. My girlfriends always came to me for advice on what to wear and how to make their outfits stand out. I was known for my style and which led me to run for President of Black Womens' weekend, where I put together a fashion show for the school. I had the time of my life and after that experience I knew that the fashion industry is where I belonged.
After college, I landed a job on Wall Street where I held a number of roles in Human Resources and Finance. While these experiences help mold my career, I realized that something was missing. My love for fashion had been pushed to the side. I had to do something about it so I started working on projects that allowed me to feed my creative side. I'd always wanted to start my own fashion line or own a boutique, so I started working on a business plan on how I would achieve this. I ended up signing up for an FIT non-credit...