When I Grow Up...

I'm sure you all can remember when you were little talking about what you want to be when you grow up. I love animals, I always have, and for years I was convinced that I was going to be a vet. Then one day my mom gave me the warning that I would have to put puppies and kitties to rest. That dream was over in an instant. 

Then I moved on to bigger plans. I would just be a famous actress. I was cast the lead in several plays to all types of audiences, including one for Tom Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security. That did it for me, I was convinced. However, growing up in a redneck town in the middle of no where Pennsylvania, I didn't come in contact with many options. By 7th grade I had focused my attention strictly on soccer. That February I underwent my first knee surgery. Let me tell you, no matter how young you may be, you never really recover from knee surgery.

Once I was in high school I wasn't really focused on becoming anything. Doesn't everyone say this is the time of your life anyways? I spent the next several years enjoying my time with friends and meeting as many new ones as possible. I fell in love with road trips, I had one of the best friends a girl could ask for. We got in trouble together, explored, became spontaneous, chased boys, let them chase us, stayed out past curfew, got into fights, laughed, cried and ultimately became sisters. At this point, "real life" was not a focus.

Senior year came before I realized I wasn't a freshman anymore. I took one photography class and fell in love. I had always been obsessed with pictures, but thought nothing more of it. That was the one class I actually focused on senior year and was convinced that I needed to become a photographer, because that's what made me happy.

The first time I had ever went to Charlotte, NC was when I was pretty little. From that day on I always told my mom that I was going to go to college there. I was about eight years old. Everyone in my family thought it was just a phase, I was excited about a new place, and that it would just wear off eventually. On top of that they wanted me to go to school back home. However, to their surprise, when it became time to apply to college the first school I applied to was the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

Granted, that would have been the ONLY school I applied to but since my mom kept telling me I needed a back up plan, "just in case". To make her happy, I decided to get a back up plan. The next day I applied to the University of California in Los Angeles. My parents stopped trying to get me to apply to a Pennsylvania school after that.

I received early acceptance at UNCC, and was beyond excited for my new journey. As I was filling out my paperwork I got to the part to apply for your major. Oh shit, this is where it got real. Did I want to take pictures for the rest of my life? Would I be happy? Then I realized I didn't know what I wanted. I decided to be safe and go in as an undeclared major. Plus, you have to take all those general education courses anyways, why rush into something?

Freshman year was a blast. I met some of the most amazing people in my life and created fabulous memories. I never felt so at home as I did down there. My first semester flew by and going into my second semester my adviser was really pressing me to declare a major. That's when I knew I had to get serious.

I was watching Project Runway one evening with my best friend/roommate, when all of a sudden it hit me: I'm naturally good at fashion! I always had this knack for styling, and piecing together unique pieces, making basic garments appear expensive and just making people feel good in their clothes. Friends had relied on me for years to go shopping with them. I finally knew, my perfect job would be a personal stylist.

When I let my parents know what I was declaring my major, all I remember is my dad saying, "Get a job, not a hobby." I've always believed that you should never wake up not wanting to go to work, because the day that you do should be your last day working there. I wanted to do something that I was enthusiastic about, that I had passion for, and something that I could go somewhere with.

But I was thrown a curve ball... I was paying for school myself and the out-of-state tuition for such a major school was outrageous. After my freshman year I already owed more money than my brother, who just completed his junior year of college in PA. I wasn't given a choice, I had to move back. I was heartbroken, and felt defeated. Charlotte was my home, and I was forced to leave.

Halfway through the summer I still hadn't applied to any schools. I finally had to get on the ball and pray that someone would accept me less than two months away from the start of the semester. I researched schools that offered fashion merchandising and/or fashion marketing and decided on a medium sized school a little ways outside of Pittsburgh.

I declared my major in fashion merchandising and started in the fall. My first semester was rough, I was bitter about having to leave and wanted nothing to do with that school. But it slowly got better. I allowed myself to make friends, I worked a lot, and had some of the most fun classes out of any major on campus.

I ended up graduating a semester early and went on to become a store manager less than two months later. I loved the company I was working for, but I hated the area I was in and was ready to move back down south. I tried to transfer within that company but my voice wasn't being heard. Finally I decided that I needed to find other means to be able to move. The first company I went for an interview with was in Raleigh, NC. I wanted this job (a visual merchandiser) more than anything. It was one step closer to my dream job of being a stylist. I was ecstatic when offered the position, until we discussed the pay rate. I would be making a little more than I was as a store manager, but not enough to account for the cost of living in a city as compared to a ghost town. I was also starting to pay off those countless student loans and a pay increase was a must.

I hated to do so, but I had to turn down this amazing opportunity for something as petty as money. Devastated, I returned to work and decided I would have to look elsewhere. Less than a week later I was contacted by this same company. They were offering me a different position, more money and something I couldn't say no to.

That weekend I packed up my life and moved, and I have no regretted this decision once. I love my new job, coworkers, lifestyle, and being back in North Carolina. The only way this could get better is if I was in Charlotte, and working as a stylist.

But here's the thing, I'm not ready to grow up, so until then I am more than happy with my current position. My life has been turned upside down once again. I have lost some "friends", gained new ones, fell in love, and became, what I think, is a better me. I don't know about you, but I believe everything happens for a reason. And my dream job will come along, but until then I will enjoy every day even more than the last.

When I finally grow up I want to be a stylist, what about you?