Fashion Merchandising and PR: Turning a Passion into a Career

     Starting off college I picked a major that I knew very little about. My freshman year I stumbled upon a PRSSA booth and immediately liked the way it sounded. It took me a long time to figure out what I was interested in and how to make a career out of it. PRSSA was a big reason for me finding out my minor and how beneficial it would be for my career. I learned so much about PR and have gotten good connections out of it. Most members I met were seniors, but it felt like a had a band of mentors to guide me through my freshman year.
     I was really lucky because I liked my major  right away and stuck with it, but PR is not my passion in life. Growing up I loved dressing up, fashion, and shopping. I knew this was a passion of mine, but I could not sew, thus I did not know how to tailor fashion to my major. With PR I knew I would be able to have more flexibility with what I wanted to do. I want my future career to be one that does not feel like a job and gives me creative freedom. I am the kind of person who wants to try everything and work on all the parts of a project. The fashion industry is not an easy industry to get into, but fashion brands will always need someone to handle their PR and promotional events from an expert's point of view. I have an extensive knowledge of fashion and following trends because it is a hobby of mine, however, I need to learn how the business side of how things work. Fashion merchandising felt like a perfect minor to add skills and give me the knowledge to successfully create brand content. As well as understanding the different needs of individual brands. 
     As a sophomore I am excited to see where my education journey will take me. These past two years,  Illinois State University has given to so many opportunities and connections for my future. 

By: Maggie Mokrzycki