Lol How Did I End Up At Uni

So, even though I'm currently at uni studying Politics and Economics this wasn't the original plan.

With being tall practically since I jumped out the womb, all my life I've heard comments that I should be a model but I never saw it as a realistic possibility. However, I have always loved fashion. So at the age of 13 I begged my mum for a Singer machine, used the little knowledge I had from Textiles lessons at school and began sewing. The ultimate dream was to be the head of a three streamed business: fashion design, home decor and modelling agency. I began creating a portfolio and even completed a Bronze and Silver Arts Award in Fashion. 

The first dress I ever made

When I was 14 it was time to choose GCSE subjects and it was clear to me that I was going to choose Textiles then go to fashion school and end up being a famous fashion designer. But when I went to my Textiles teacher for advice I was told that even though I had good sewing skills both by hand and on the machine, my drawing skills were "sub-par" and therefore it was probably better that I chose Food Technology that was better suited to me. While I loved Food Technology it wasn't where my heart was, I didn't care about the origins of meals or the science behind food instead I loved and was fascinated by all things fashion. So reluctantly I partially discarded my dream of being the next Elie Saab (his clothes actually speak to me) and decided that even though fashion might not be a professional career path for me I could still love it as a hobby. Even till today the feeling that the process of designing an outfit and then wearing it gives me is something else entirely. 

Anyway, I put my heart and soul into Food Technology. I found out that food can not only be fun to eat but fun to make and this is where I found my love of making pastry. Don't ask me why but I love make rough puff pastry from scratch and this is where I learnt it. At 15 it was now time to start thinking about life after GCSEs, I had two choices: cooking school or A-Levels. Now cooking school would be ideal but what if I got there and they told me I had no talent, it would be a repeat of Textiles. So, out of fear of rejection and partly being pushed by my Nigerian-born dad, I went down the more traditional academic route. 

Studying A-Levels in Maths, Government & Politics, Economics and Computer Science meant that once again I had two routes to go down, either go to university or go straight into an apprenticeship and work my way up within a company. During the summer in between my AS and A2 I had work experiences at varies companies. Afterwards I decided I quite liked corporate banking. It matched all three of my prospective career criteria: matched my skill set, had travel opportunities and was lucrative. 

With a prospective career in mind it was now time to choose what course to do at uni. Economics was the obvious choice as I was studying both Economics and Mathematics and it would be ideal when looking for graduate jobs so I applied for BSc Economics. Now, after the trauma that was A-Levels and realised that while I enjoyed Economics I couldn't study it non-stop for the next 3 years of my life. So, in a last minute decision on A-Level results day I changed to a joint honours degree in BSc Politics and Economics. Sadly, the university I got accepted into didn't have any more space on that course so I put myself into clearing.

Any successful person in any industry can tell stories of people telling them to focus on something else as their dream wasn't attainable. This is easy to forget that when you only see them on the other side now successful and not the struggle it took to get them there. The Elie Saabs of this world didn't give up at the first sign of a hurdle instead they pushed through. I think that had I gotten that feedback now, with the perspective that no one's opinion can define you unless you let it, I would have told that teacher where to put her views on my drawing skills. But alas here I am in uni loving my course and living la vida loca.

The question is, was I wrong to desert my dream? Meh. I don't know but I can definitely say I don't regret it. I love where I am in my life right now.

Anyway those are my 3 am thoughts after finding my old sketch book.