I'm Going To FIT!! (Working towards your dreams)

Three years ago, I was sad. I spent a lot of time sitting in bed on my phone, avoiding assignments I knew needed to be done, and sleeping. I started this class at my high school, Fashion and Textiles, and immediately fell in love. My teacher was amazing, she really cared about me and my work and she was always there for me. The class challenged my creativity and taught me things I was excited to learn. I had no idea where I was going to go to college at the time, nor did I really care. Getting so involved in fashion, I yearned at the idea of living in NYC and going to fashion school. But, as a middle class girl living in a small town, that seemed beyond out of reach. One day my fashion teacher mentioned to me that Purdue had a program where I could apply to spend my junior year at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I knew right then and there what I wanted for my future, and that changed a lot for me. Getting through the rest of my senior year was still a bit of a struggle for me- making this plan didn’t solve everything. It did, however, give me an attainable goal- something to work towards. I applied to Purdue, I got in, and I spent all of my time working on Kiki Thrifts and dreaming of a life studying the thing I loved so much while living in a city I had only ever dreamed of visiting. 

I poured all of this passion into Kiki Thrifts, and built a brand centered around fashion and NYC. It inspired me so much, and I always had something to work towards. Starting college I took a break from Kiki Thrifts- after losing my original account. I never lost the passion for clothes and all things fashion though. I wore mini skirts and tights and heeled boots to my classes, sitting next to my peers in sweatpants and hoodies- what some may call the “normal college attire.” I traded out my backpack for a tote bag because- while it proved terribly inconvenient- the backpack simply didn’t match my outfits! Everytime I found myself losing motivation for school in general- I remembered the goal. Studying at the school of my dreams, in the city of my dreams. 

I lost focus for a little bit between freshman and sophomore year. College brings a lot to your plate- between the multiple jobs I’ve always worked, trying to stay on top of my wellness, and trying to excel in my classes- I didn’t feel like I had time to prioritize fashion anymore. I wrote my application essay to FIT about halfway through my sophomore year. Writing that letter reminded me how passionate I had been about Kiki Thrifts and all things fashion. After a lot of thought and little preparation, I restarted it because of that application essay. Pouring all of this passion, work and time into it again reminded me why I do what I do and where I want to go. Distractions are okay, time off is okay, but you can never forget what you’re working towards

Getting into FIT still doesn’t feel real. As many youtube videos as I watch or as much as I talk about it- it still won’t feel real until I’m there. It’s been the plan for so long, but it was always “if I get in.” Getting in was a huge deal for me because it validated that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, and I am good enough to attend the best fashion school in the world. It was the reward that I had been working to attain for so long. It’s important to recognize all the work you put in when you accomplish something like that.

When you’re working towards your goals, your dreams, you have to know there are going to inevitably be set backs. A big one for me was when I lost my original Kiki Thrifts Instagram right after I hit 1k followers. I felt like I’d been beaten- taken down at my peak, and lost a lot of hope. In the end, it worked out because it resulted in me starting “Kiki Thrifts 2” and jumping into it with everything I had- because I knew to be successful I had to since I had been gone from it for so long. It relit the fire beneath me right before something as huge as getting into FIT. I faced setbacks in my journey, big and small alike, but I still accomplished something really huge that I’ve wanted for so long. And that’s only because I didn’t give up. 

Reaching your goals sometimes isn’t as glamorous as it may seem either, sometimes it comes with hardships as well. I have to say goodbye to the best friends I have genuinely ever had, for about a year and a half. Not to say I’m not beyond grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given with FIT, but right now saying goodbye is really hard. To be missing the people that have meant so much to me for so long for a year and a half seems dooming. I’ve built a life at Purdue that I love so much, and now I have to say goodbye for a bit. I know it’s what I have to do though. For myself, for my goals, for my passion. I’m going to see my family significantly less. I’ve always been just two hours away and able to go home as spontaneously as I’d wanted- in addition to going home for every holiday and birthday. I’ll have to get on a plane now, just to see my family- and that’s terrifying to me. My visits will be a lot fewer and farther between. But my family knows this is what I have to do, and they’re my biggest supporters- they always have been. Going from living in a small town in Indiana to the biggest, most popular city in the country (ALONE)  is going to be an adjustment too- to say the least. I’m going to have to get used to a lot- that Subway might have me beat for a bit. The city is one of the most terrifying parts. But I know that with time I’ll get used to it. I’ll learn where to go and how to get there, and by next May I’ll be a natural. 

All of this to say, your dreams and your goals are attainable. You simply have to be willing to put the work in. And when it seems like all hope is lost? You can’t give up. It’s hard, but in the end it’s always worth it. Sometimes, you reach that goal- but it comes with some struggles you hadn’t thought about before. That’s when it comes down to how bad you want it. How much you’re willing to sacrifice for your dream. And when the pros outweigh the cons, you know you’re in the right place. This is just my story, yours likely looks a lot different. But I hope you were able to draw some inspiration from this and you keep working towards what you want. 

ALL the love, 

Kiki<3