鈥淚鈥檝e been surrounded by fashion my whole life. My mom is a designer, so creativity and style have always been part of my world.聽
Growing up in a small town, I wasn鈥檛 exposed to the many ways fashion could become a career, so I initially planned to major in business and keep fashion as a side passion. But after taking my first design courses at Meredith, I quickly realized how much I loved translating ideas into garments. I fell in love with the process, especially the way fashion gives me a way to express personal and cultural stories. I knew I didn鈥檛 just want fashion to be part of my life 鈥� I wanted it to be my future.
Sophomore year was not easy. I was having trouble balancing my social life, school, and two jobs. I began to fall behind in one of my classes, and in that moment, it felt like my only option was to drop the course and change my major. Dramatic, right? To be fair, it was only a slight change鈥攆rom Fashion Design to Fashion Merchandising. I made the switch without consulting anyone, on the very last day of the withdrawal period.
Even though it was no longer required, I stayed in a design course. At the end of that class, we threw a small party to celebrate the seniors. We sat together, eating and talking about our plans and memories. Suddenly, the conversation turned to me and my super-convincing major switch.聽
Dr. [Eunyoung] Yang looked me straight in the eye and told me not to give up on design. She spoke of my talents and my fears and said she didn鈥檛 know who I was trying to fool, because she couldn鈥檛 see me doing anything else. One by one, all my peers chimed in. They encouraged me and reminded me of the beautiful things I鈥檇 created, and the potential I鈥檇 be giving up just because something felt hard. Everyone at that table saw something in me that I couldn鈥檛 see in myself, and that鈥檚 a moment I鈥檒l carry with me forever.
Dr. Yang wasn鈥檛 willing to watch me settle for less, and for that I鈥檓 so grateful.
Both Dr. Yang and Professor Jessica Palmer taught me the power of vulnerability, the importance of having a support system, and the strength that comes from standing firm in your 鈥渨hy鈥濃�攅ven when it gets tough.聽
My final semester was the busiest time of my life. I was juggling fashion shows, working, running my brand, and keeping up with coursework. I was exhausted, but I stayed grounded in my 鈥渨hy.鈥� Through that experience, I discovered that I鈥檓 far more capable than I ever gave myself credit for. I learned that I can thrive under pressure, lead with purpose, and hold onto my vision even in the most chaotic moments. That realization has given me the confidence to face the next chapter with excitement and intention.
I鈥檓 most proud of my senior collection, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. It was inspired by my Tanzanian roots and celebrated the fusion of African prints with upcycled denim. It represents both cultural heritage and sustainability鈥攖wo things that matter deeply to me. I鈥檝e never worked so hard or so long on a single project. It took over a year of preparation and months of staying in the sewing lab for hours at a time. That collection is a testament to my resilience and creativity. It proved to me that I can stay consistent and finish strong, even when things get hard.
Now, I have an amazing portfolio filled with a wide range of skills that I鈥檝e developed here at Meredith. Beyond garment construction, I鈥檝e learned about consumer behavior, trend forecasting, sustainability, merchandising, sketching, CAD software, data analysis, retail math, and more. All of this has deepened my love for fashion. It鈥檚 fun and creative, yes, but it鈥檚 also fast-paced, thought-provoking, and constantly evolving.
Getting involved on campus helped me find my community and grow as a leader. During my freshman year, I joined the Black Student Union (BSU) and served as student life representative. That early involvement helped me connect with other students and learn about the broader campus culture. By junior year, I became president of BSU, which was one of the most rewarding leadership roles I鈥檝e held. In my senior year, I served as the campus ambassador for the National Retail Federation Foundation, an organization that connects college students to careers in the retail industry. Through their annual conference, I made the connection that led to my internship鈥攁nd ultimately a full-time job.
After graduation, I鈥檓 packing up and moving to Wisconsin to work as an apparel designer at Kohl鈥檚! I had the opportunity to intern there last summer, and I鈥檓 so proud to be returning full-time. The work I did during the internship 鈥� and the support I received from Meredith鈥� definitely helped me secure this role.鈥�