So you are done with Fashion School? Now what?

I just recently finished my two, might I add long, two years at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising). It really was one of the best experiences of my life. I met amazing people who shared the same creative passion as I do. The classes were great. I was a Visual Communications major and it seemed like all the classes were fit for me. I am a complete visual person. So I was always in a room full of people that were just like me. At that time when I first started, FIDM became very popular for a little show called “The Hills”. I tried not to watch it. I am not going to lie and say that I never flipped through it. Hey, this girl went to the school that I was going and she had my dream internship. Now that I am done, many people ask me if it was what I thought it would be. I don’t know how to really answer that? I mean it was really hard work and for all the comments that I heard through out those two years, it is “Real College”! But before, I never really thought how it would be. FIDM has a tough curriculum that prepares you to enter the industry. In LA, everyone has heard about FIDM and knows its one of the best design schools in the country. But places where they have no idea what FIDM is, they just think you got your A.A and that’s it. You really have to work twice as hard to get noticed. I am done with school and now what. I couldn’t stay in Los Angeles because it’s so expensive. I am back in Fresno and there really isn’t anything that I could do that pertains to my education. Did I really just become 13,000 in debt just to do retail? Or do I just need to get that experience? I went to an interview in Fresno to meet this woman who produces this fashion show. I thought I was going to be great and I would be the best thing that ever happened to this lady. When we had the interview, all she kept asking me if I had all this experience then why was I there and not in LA. I also think that she might have seen me too young. I felt that I had to prove myself to her that I actually knew what I was talking about. But with all these experiences that I have been through, I have to work harder to prove these people wrong. For now, I am going to work hard to save up some money. I want to start on my own creative business ventures (like this blog!). I am also going to continue on with my studies and major in Journalism/English. I hope in the future to be in the Fashion Magazine industry. I want to do it all. A stylist, writer, fashion editor, and a successful business woman. Thanks. Candy (Visual Designer)  [www.fidm.edu for more information on the school]