Fashion

Coco Chanel once said, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." I fully agree with her words. Being a fashion major myself at Brookdale Community College, I have learned what it takes to encompass a full understanding of what Ð''fashion' truly is. To me, it is a way of life. From visual merchandising to advertising, textile science to marketing, it is necessary to have a culmination of that knowledge and more in order to work in this industry. The Fashion Institute of Technology would greatly benefit my future in the fashion world. Its surroundings, location and extremely high student success rate makes me enthusiastic and motivated to succeed in doing so. I plan on majoring in the Fashion Merchandising Management program so that I may continue to educate myself and successfully pursue my career as a Fashion Director in the future.

Working as a sales associate in the retail industry at Ann Taylor Loft provides me with hands-on experience and insight to the retail aspect of the fashion industry. I am able to apply my skills and knowledge at work from what I have learned in my fashion courses at Brookdale Community College. As a highly respected employee, my responsibilities to the company are important and I try to demonstrate that with exceptional work habits and a high degree of professionalism. I value and respect the customers who shop at Ann Taylor Loft and treat them as a friend rather than a client or customer. There is a distinct line between loving what you do and appreciating what you do. I both love and appreciate my work and plan on continuing working with the company indefinitely.

My accomplishments, awards and honors greatly reflect my personality and strengths I have in life. As an Equestrian, I hold my competing in high regards. I began riding when I was nine years old and I have continued to raise my standards for what I except of myself every year since. My first lesson is as vivid a memory as could be. I recall being so nervous and frightened of this large animal which I felt I had no control over. However, once I took my first lap around the stable I instantly felt a connection between the horse and myself. The manner that I would pull back on the reigns to slow him down or give him a gentle squeeze of the leg to speed him up, would evoke an effortless response with every command. After that initial lesson, I was inseparable from the stable. I was one hundred percent committed and eventually started working there when I was not scheduled to ride. It was a rough and tiring job and I surely do not doubt that plenty of the other workers had a good laugh at my expense, watching me haul around horse Ð''fertilizer' all day. Once I began showing and competing, I grew even more enthusiastic about it. I trained long and hard, but competing made it all worth while. There were times when I would take a serious fall off my horse and it would bruise my pride, but I always had the dignity to get back into that saddle and try again. Soon I was winning multiple competitions in Jumping and Hunter events and eventually placed third in the overall Central Jersey Equestrian Show. It was the first sign of true commitment and responsibility in my life and I carry that sense of pride with me everywhere I go.

My second passion is dance. I have practiced and executed different genres of dance on and off for the past six years including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and most recently, salsa. When I dance, I forget