When it comes to my work ethic, I've always taken the unconventional route, and that has become my greatest strength. When all my friends in high school were getting jobs at fast food joints or department stores, I was interning for a local independent designer making figure skating dresses. I was rhinestoning dresses for hours at a time and cutting layers upon layers of sparkling stretch fabric. I worked closely with my boss who imparted knowledge of design and pattern making that would serve me for years to come. In design school, while most of my friends took the weekends off to go to parties or frat houses, I was in my parents' basement cutting, sewing, and pattern making clothing pieces I would now come to cringe at the memory of. I was taking the skills and techniques I learned in my course classes and putting them into practice on my own time. It was in these moments that an intrinsic desire to better my craft and apply my knowledge was born and nurtured.After graduation, when all of my fellow classmates were taking design jobs at larger brands, I took a job as a production sewer at the sole ethical and sustainable clothing brand in Minnesota. Wearing many hats, my job came with a lot of responsibility and many opportunities to problem solve and work closely with a small team. Now, in 2022, I continue to walk an unconventional path! Taking in every opportunity afforded to me, and seeing these opportunities as a means to grow and gain as much knowledge as I can to help me in the next role that comes my way.