There are many different things that I value in my personal and my professional life and there are values that intermix between the two. I value hard work and a optimistic personality. Without this, I do not think I could achieve success in this industry. The fashion industry can be very competitive and having the drive and motivation to perform the best I can will help me to achieve my dreams. I value honesty in a person and accountability. I also very highly value kindness. It is important to me that I work in a environment where we build each other up and care for one another. Supporting others is something I always strive to do. Hard work, honesty, integrity, compassion are all things that I look for in other people and what I aim to be. Always being kind to others has helped me to make connections with other and to be a good leader through work and in the personal areas of my life. Having the values that I do will help me to always be the best person I can be both at work and outside of work. Dependability and commitment are work styles that are very important to me. I work very hard and try not to let anyone be disappointed and let them down, I want to work with people who are willing to put in the same efforts. In the fashion industry, working with a team you have to be reliable and responsible for fulfilling your obligations,. This goes for a leadership and management roles as well,. A team must rely on their leader to delegate team tasks and make sure everything is in control while maintaining composure. While being at work I want to have fun and make become friends with my coworkers. I value my friendships dearly and am invested in my friends lives. Without their mutual support I would not have been able to pursue this career path.
The Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising program at Central Washington University provided me with excellent skills and knowledge that I will take with me in my future endeavors as a fashion professional. The ATM courses that I have taken have given me the chance to excel and learn the ins and outs of the industry. Consumer Textiles has taught me to identify types of fabrics, learn more about dyes and how labeling is done. Fashion Trend Analysis, taught me how to forecast fashion trends, how to identify between a classic, fad, and trend, how to recognize consumer acceptance or rejection of trends. I gain fashion knowledge by socio-economic, demographic, media, and fashion influences. I learned about management and leadership skills and how to use excel for business purposes. Through my sustainable retailing class, I learned how to market sustainable fashions and the importance of social responsibility in the fashion industry. Through the Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising program I learned about every detail from textile contents, how to identify the zeitgeist , recycled trends, how garments are made, and so many more valuable lessons. The classes, in the program pushed me to participate and share my opinion more and has helped me become more comfortable with presenting in a professional way. Each class taken has shaped me as a future fashion professional. I will take with me the knowledge and abilities gained and use them in my future career.
As a student in the Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising program I have learned that I can be creative while still thinking with a business mind. I can enjoy playing with color, design principles and excel at retail math. I have learned that I pay very close attention to detail when it comes to mood boards and presentation work. I would spend hours preparing for presentations to ensure accuracy and the best performance possible. Working often with a difficult schedule and balancing multiple clubs and classes, I very quickly learned the importance of time management and to be efficient with the time allotted to complete assignments and projects. Being organizational is something I pride myself on, this will come in handy for my future careers by meeting deadlines, keeping up with customers and taking note of their likes and dislikes. Being organized will also help me be able to arrange merchandise effectively and have the opportunity to keep a shopping friendly environment for customers. The interpersonal skills that I have gained from attending Central Washington University have only strengthened, I believe I have confidence in talking about things that I love and can truly connect with those around me. Communication skills are very important in the fashion industry and the people and projects in the Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising program have truly helped me realize my own. I have been in several leadership roles, from grade school to the work place. In each role I try my best to lead by example and keep open communication. I want to include everyone in the process and listen to everyone’s ideas. This something that has allows been important to me. I want to always make people feel wanted and welcome. I am a person that is easy to get a long with. My personality is very welcoming and inviting which is good for the work place.
I have been around technology from a very young age. Similar to how I stay up to date with fashion trends and up and coming designers, I stay up to date with new design techniques and technology that is being used in the fashion industry. Throughout my high school and college careers I learned quite a bit about technology. In high school I took multiple classes studying photography. I got to explore and be creative. I took photos of events, people, and fashion outfits. In those class I learned how to use Photoshop and the photo developmental process. Since being at Central Washington University, I have learned more about Microsoft Office programs, including excel, publisher and word. I feel comfortable with each application. I currently work in the computer labs on campus with Macs and PCs. I also am comfortable with social networking platforms as I have managed Menchies Frozen Yogurt franchise Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages. At Central Washington University I have taken a Digital Presentation class and Photoshop classes at Olympic College. In both classes the pace was very fast and it was enforced to us students just how important it is to learn these programs and to stay up to date with technical techniques. I believe that all of these pieces of technology will help me to go farther in my career.
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