1James

AysiaJames
May8,2014

PrideSampleEssay

IamaveryproudmemberofFHA(FutureHomemakersofAmerica)thisclubhashelpedme
buildlifeskillsandconfidenceinmyself.ThisismyfirstyearandIdecidedthatasaseniorIwantedto
competeinFashionDesign.IwasntsureabouthowIwasgoingtodobutIknewthatIshouldatleast
try.FHAhashelpedmefocusmyskillsandmademorededicatedtofashion.Forourregionalandstate
competitionIwasaskedtosketchthreefashioncroquiswithoriginaldesignsandputthemonaboard
withfabricswatchesandnotionsamples.Ialsohadtocreateacostbreakdownsheetandwritethe
principlesandelementsofdesign,andthentotopitoffIhadtogiveafiveminutespeechoneverythingI
did.Iworkeddiligentlyandwasoftenatschoolafterhoursinmyadvisorsroomworkingonmyproject.
AstimecameclosertoregionalsIstartedtohavedoubtsinboardandmyabilitiesbut,my
advisorwashedthatawayandgaveanewwaveofconfidencefortheupcomingcompetition.Theday
hadcomeforregionalsandIwasn'tnervous,IwassurprisinglycalmandcollectedandbeforeIknewI
wasbeingcalledforfirstplace.Ididn'thavemuchtimetocelebratebecauseIknewwehadstaejust
aroundthecornersoIimproveduponmyboardandcorrectedthemistakesinmypaperwork.What
feltlikeafewdayslater,Iwasatstatecompetition.Iknewthisiswhereitreallycountedbecausethe
winnerwonascholarshiptoFIDMandTheArtInstituteIshowedconfidenceanddidmyverybestin
myspeech.ItfeltlikeeternitybutfinallyIwasdone.Lateroninthedaytheyhadputeveryone'sboards
upfordisplay.IsawmineandpeoplewereallarounditthenIsawanotheroneandmyheartdropped.
ThesketchesonthisboardweresoskilledthatIknewforsureIwasgoingtogetsecond.Whenthe
awardsrolledaroundIwaspreparingmyselfmentallyTellingmyselfitwasokaysecondisstillgood.I
2James
wasonstagewhentheycalledoutthirdIclappedforher.ThentheycalledoutsecondandIstartedto
moveforwardwhentheycalledanothergirlsname.ItwasthegirlIthoughtwasgoingtogetfirstthats
whenifeltmyeyesswellwithtearsIknewinmyheartIhadn'tplaced.Justwheniwasabouttostart
cryingtheycalledmynameforfirst.Itwasoneofthehappiestmomentsinmylife.Ihadwonthe
scholarshipsandIwasgivenahugetrophyandplaque.Thisgavemesomuchconfidence,itshowed
methatIwasskilledinFashiondesignanditshowedmethatwhenyouputyourwholeheartandmind
intosomething,youcanneverfail.NowIampreparingfornationalsinSanAntonioTexas.Myproject
ismuchmoredifficultbutIamconfidentinmyselfandIamdriventowin.