The End Is Near!

Well, ladies and... well, I think it's only ladies, but this one's for you too, gentleman: The school year is FINALLY almost over and I can almost return to my regular blog sessions. This has been hands-down the craziest semester of my life, no lie. Taking 20 credits, training a new puppy, stage managing for a community theatre, costuming for a play, entering a fashion design contest with friends and trying to build a social life in my new town has been no easy task! I thank God that not only have I been able to fight through these past four months, but I've managed to do a pretty solid job while doing so, too.

I've been maintaining my fantastic grade point average and receiving recognition for it along the way. Yesterday was the school's annual fashion show and I have never been so inspired in my life! I literally got emotional watching it. Many of the looks were from sponsoring retailers, but the final two portions were entirely student-made designs and they were FABULOUS! As I watched my friends' and classmates' creations being modeled on the runway, I just knew that I have to be a part of this for 2013. So that is my goal for next year: to model my own creations in the fashion show for all my friends and family to see. It's going to take a lot of work, but I'm feeling very confident. I also plan on becoming a member of our school's Fashion, Apparel and Business Organization, so I can help coordinate the show and tour behind-the-scenes facilities in the Midwest fashion industry.

 After the fashion show, there was a showcase of projects done by students that were hand-selected by professors to represent the fashion program at NDSU. One of my teachers informed me that she would be using one of my projects in the showcase, so I stopped by after the show to check it out. However, as I walked through the small gallery they had set up, I noticed not one, not two, not even four, but FIVE of my projects that I created this semester were being displayed for everyone to see. I had no idea beforehand and it was such an honor to be selected and to represent something I love so much.

 My Fashion Business Journal, including fashion news, analysis, reaction papers, and trend information.

 For another assignment, I analyzed three trends in toddler boy fashion- this was the board that accompanied my paper.

We had to develop a line of apparel- this is 3 gowns for evening wear: the inspiration board and the design board.

I've made quite a few friends in my short time here, and actually managed to have a few laughs along the way, despite all the extra schoolwork. I was nervous entering a program comprised mainly of young women (girls and I have had a lot of struggles in the past), but I think I've finally learned to figure out for myself the good eggs from the bad ones. This will be my first summer spent away from the Twin Cities, and though I am sad that I won't see my friends from back home as much as I'd like, I am thrilled to have people up here to spend the hot summer months with.

 This was a project where we had to create apparel from a specific decade (We did the 70s) out of garbage- literally! And those are some of my new friends: Betsy, Emily, and Kylie. <3

So as the semester comes to a close, I just want to thank all of you for being so patient with me and standing by as I slugged through these past four months. I'm hopping back on the blog band wagon as soon as finals are over- just a couple more weeks!

XOXO,