Outfit Details:
I live not too far from The Pratt Institute--a pretty prestigious art school located here in Brooklyn. I wandered onto the campus a few weeks back through the open gates, and my breath was shockingly taken away. Not quite sure what I was expecting a college in NYC to be like, but certainly not how Pratt is. It was like I stepped back onto my campus at Kent State. Everything was so lush green and canopied by towering trees. Students milled around and sat peacefully in groups on the grass. I envied them so much. It's no secret that since starting my career I've missed school dearly. It's all I've ever known. I'm the type of person who does really well in a school setting. I like having check points that I can go off of to track my progress and feel as though I'm working towards something. In the corporate world...it's not quite so methodical. You kind of just float around and there are no bench marks for growing. You go to work and that's it. You don't pass papers, tests, classes, or grades. You just work. It's an odd concept for me and one I've had to adapt to.
Being on Pratt's campus flooded back fond memories of school through the 16 years I attended. It was an odd feeling, but I felt like I fit in there at Pratt. I wanted to pretend I was a student, just for an evening, and be back at that point of my life again. Of course that's mega creepy and I didn't do it. But a part of me wished I could just be them...
The weird thing is I can. Graduate school never crossed my mind before recently. I thought it was a waste of time because in the fashion industry, having anything higher than a bachelors is mostly just for the individual's desires. Acquiring a Masters or PHD in fashion (aside from becoming a professor) won't get you much further: it's all about experience in fashion. Just because getting a masters won't get me a better job, however, doesn't mean I can't consider it. I love to learn. I love to grow. I want to know everything there is to know about my industry and the related fields around it.
It's definitely too soon to decide whether I want to go back to school or not. I want to feel REALLY ready. For now I'm content building up experience in my field of work and getting to know the ropes of fulltime employment. It's just nice to know that my dreams don't have to stop: they can always continue to evolve and grow where they please. x
With much love,
Lauren
5 comments
AHHH. I Love this outfit!!!! :) (Give it to meeee.)
Lauren, often when reading your blog I feel as if I am reading my own thoughts, feelings and experiences...it's almost scary how much I can relate to so much of what you're going through.
First off, belated happy birthday and I'm so sorry to hear about your health issues. I actually went through a similar experience about 9 years ago. I had massive headaches (migraines), vertigo, tingling/numbness on one side of my body, and severe fatigue. I had all these tests done, but almost everything came back normal. Eventually I found out I had hypoglycemia and food sensitivities, and after radically changing my diet and eating habits, I eventually did recover. So definitely consider diet and things like that, if nothing else turns up. I'll be praying for you!
Secondly, the school thing. Boy can I relate! Although I'm much older than you and was in the work force for many years before going back to school, since graduating this past May I have been missing school like crazy. I LOVED college: learning, growing, challenging myself, and just being a part of a stimulating academic community. Returning to the 'real world' has been rough. Like you, I'm now seriously considering going for my Masters at some point a few years down the road.
So you are definitely not alone in all that you're going through! Hang in there, and know that no matter where life takes you, God's got your back and has amazing things in store for you.
Blessings...April
These photos are so pretty (and I love that little kitty cat)! I had a friend who went to Pratt, but I had no idea they had such a real campus! I never really considered grad school for similar reasons, but I'm keeping my options open <3
Where did the kitty come from? I love learning too. You could take a class at a time to work through grad school. Or if that is too expensive look for free classes, seminars and workshops on things your interested in. It doesn't have to be fashion to satisfy your love of learning.
Could you do a masters part time! That#'s what my husband did whilst working full time as a teacher!
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