Undergraduate / FIT- Fashion Design Essay - your honest opinion is welcomed [NEW]

My name is Dani, I'm 23 years old and this year I will be applying to FIT's Fashion Design degree.

But before we start lett me entroduse myself properlly... I was born in Russia and raised in Israel- due to unusual circumstances (full virsion in the inteview : ) combined with strong conection to the 'Holly Land'. We moved to Israel when I was in second grade, and imidiatly I was "promoted" to the third. I would say that as a child I was highly creative- some would say even hyperactive. I was in a gymnastics team, art evening classes, karate, computers (!!! which I detest these days..!) and at some point I even joined the circus (and no, I'm not making this up, I do have proofs : ). What I'm trying to say that I believe creativity can be seen in multipal figures. Yes, offcourse I also made my barbies adorable dresses and even persuade my grandmother to knitt a spesiffic dress to my favorite dall, but I bett you've read this story at least 25,74837 times - show me another applicant that joined the circus!

In my opinion, every person has his path, mine was a little bumpy. I was raised by a couple of highly aducated, SSSR living products- to be precise- by a Chemistry PHD owner father and by a graduate degree, also in Chemistry, mother. As a child, as all children, I was encouraged to participate in such 'non-sense' activities as drawing, scetcing and day dreaming about the next garment for my barbie. But as the years went by and school activities started to multiply and include scientific topics such as Chemistry and Biology, things started to change... To make the -VERY LONG- story short, my parents invested sugnificant amount of energy to convay me to follow their foot steps and to master the greatest major of all- Chemistry...

As you can anticipate I wasn't so easy on that discion- for better or worse- my mind was set-Fashion Design is the way, in fact, the only way. Just to give you a glance at the situation, on weekends when we speak, my father is still asking me repitadly "What do you intend to do with your life?!" even though he knows the answer since the forth grade.

Well I try not to be bothered, like I said- every homan being has a way, mine is slightly more challenging. But at some point thats exactly what keeps me going on and on even when I'm exhausted beyond my power, that enormous will to prove myself to them is what pushes me further more to reach my goals.

My endless battle with my parents wasn't the only obstacle through my journey. As you know Israel is not a particularly big country, concerning Fashion Design degrees there's only two universities in the country that can allow you to aquire such. One in the north and the second, the most popular and more familiar, is 'Shenkar'.Due to my central location I applie to the second . In the year of my application another 700 prospective students desided to join me, while the number of seats opeb iwas 60. My point is that I have'nt even got the chance to present my Portfolio. I'm not ashamed, mistakes occur. All I can add is that I was angry- furious if to be aqurate.

I was thirsty for knowledge, I wanted to master technicians and to learn how to make those dreams, thoughts, visions to become a reality, a final product. I worked hurd and was willing to pay but I got refused.

I'm not a quite, never was. If there's one thing in this world that I'm absolutly sure about is that if one sets his mind on something and persue his goal with determination and persistence- there's nothing in the whole wide world that can stop him.

Maybe a change of environment is the answer, or even a whole other country,culture and a different perseption of fashion- is what it takes.

I know that whatever surprises life prepaires for me- I will find a way, a solution to go after my dream- because I sincerely believe I have what it takes. I'm hurd working, persistant and most of all I'm a dreamer. All I ask for is the permission to learn- to absorb the best tools to perform what whorthless if stays in the boundries of my mind.

What's a good ideas worth if not exicuted?
You have the ability to teach me. I need you to give me that chance to evolve, and I'll prove you and everyone that demands a proof that all of this was worth it.

Undergraduate / 'I was the leading dancer' - Pratt application assignment [2]

List honors recieved by you extracurricular experience in the arts, as well as other areas (e.g., awards, employment, positions of leadership or responsibility, involvement in community affairs, etc.)

I'm affraid I carried away and wrote to much details, and it's quite long. Is that what I was supposed to do? or is it supposed to be more like an actuall list?

I was interested in art from a very young age and thanks to my mother I started attending art classes as a child, even bafore first grade. My creativity appeared in many forms, I was dancing, attending karate classes, gymnastics and at some point I even joined the circus (and no, I am not joking).

At high school I was the leading dancer at the schools group and excelled in arts- in fact arts got me the highest grade, simply because it was my favorite subject.

During high school years students in Israel required to contribute to society in one of a few programs. I was so carried away that by the end of that year it appeared to me that I have participated in three different organizations. Working with problematic teenagers and a public suffering from all sorts of addictions fascinated me. It enriched me in so many ways.It was an incredible chanse, to learn and to be able to help. Untill this very day I am gratful for having this expirience as part of my life.

Regarding employment, I started very young (at the age of 14), always seeking for independence. I worked at right about every decent job. I waitered tabls and worked as a host in restaurants. By the age of 17 I was already a manager of a shop that experts in natural soap and bath products (I served the owner a cup of coffee and impressed by my sence of humor he offered me the job). As I terned 18 I moved out of my parents house and became an independent distributer of Herbelife products. Afterwards I took a prep course towards fashion design studies and private lessons in sewing. In the evenings I worked as a waitress and occationally as a bartender to support myself financially.

When I moved to Tel-Aviv, about two years ago I started working as a sales manager in an international company selling vending machines. I must addmit that having my own office and closing deals worth thousands of dolars was a surreal experience (I was the youngest employee in the sales department).

In August 2007 I decided that it's time for a change, to start moving towards my own dream. I started a professional fashion design course and in my spare time I worked at a boutique of my favorite israeli designer (some would say the best). I started as a sales woman and in a short while I was promoted to a manager status. Working at 'Yosef' was a very challenging and educating axperience, however during my enrollement in that position we have managed as a team to brake all prior sale records and increase the stores avarage in 50-70 thousand shekels per month (about 20,000 U.S dollars).

In October this year I havs successfully graduated the professional fashion desing course, and I can not wait to continue what I have started. These studies felt like an appetizer and now my hunger to acquire proper aducation is even greater than before.