Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars

When I was three I was in love with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins and all the Disney gals with their lovely and fancy gowns. I was always inspired by them to dress up in my slips and twirl around listening to Whitney Houston and Michael Bolton. As I got older I would ask my mother to draw their dresses (not THEM, their DRESSES) as often as she could.

Finally, she got so tired of drawing them for me that she told me to try drawing them myself.

I started drawing Belle's dress, Ariel's human dress, Snow White's, random peasants, evil queens, anything that had a skirt or any fancy detail, I was attempting to draw it. I was so in love with gowns.

I loved designing gowns and decided I wanted to pursue it.

I got quite a bit older and still would doodle my own designs as well as the same Disney princess gowns I have always loved.

I loved designing gowns and decided I wanted to pursue it.

When high school rolled around, I was blessed with the opportunity to be a participant on my high school's Ballroom Dance Team. I was welcomed to a whole new world of dresses. Dresses for the foxtrot, waltz, cha cha, samba... Later on in my ballroom team career I had the opportunity to design some dresses for our Latin and Standard Medleys.

note: my designs not pictured

I loved designing gowns and, again, decided I wanted to pursue it.

Then College hit.

I lost my ambition to pursue my dream of becoming a gown designer. It didn't seem possible to me. Moving away seemed hopeless, so I unsuccessfully tried to find something else that suited me, I tried everything from illustration to fine art, to art history and even elementary school teaching. Nothing clicked.

3 General Conferences ago (April 2008) was the weekend I decided to just shoot for my dreams of pursuing a degree in Fashion Design. After I made the decision everything fell into place. I learned about a fashion program up in Salt Lake which was much more affordable and had the same curriculum as FIT, a fashion school I had dreamed of being a part of in New york city.

I then had the opportunity to visit NYC as part of a church history tour and fell in love with it.

Now, nearly done with my associates in Fashion another opportunity has opened to me.

I have been thinking and praying about moving away to New York City for more than I can remember. This week, I was looking at FIT's website looking at possibilities. I discovered that they offer a Bachelors Degree program in Special Occasion and Bridal Fashion. Perfect.

I'm now shooting for that dream and in a little more than a year will be moving to New York City pursuing my dream and shooting for the moon. I can only hope for the best and work really hard to achieve my goals. Heck, what have I got to lose? Even if it doesn't work out after NYC I'll have so many new life experiences that will help me grow and everything will work out for the best. Everything happens for a reason!

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars