“I’ve been surrounded by fashion my whole life. My mom is a designer, so creativity and style have always been part of my world.

Growing up in a small town, I wasn’t exposed to the many ways fashion could become a career, so I initially planned to major in business and keep fashion as a side passion. But after taking my first design courses at Meredith, I quickly realized how much I loved translating ideas into garments. I fell in love with the process, especially the way fashion gives me a way to express personal and cultural stories. I knew I didn’t just want fashion to be part of my life – I wanted it to be my future.

Sophomore year was not easy. I was having trouble balancing my social life, school, and two jobs. I began to fall behind in one of my classes, and in that moment, it felt like my only option was to drop the course and change my major. Dramatic, right? To be fair, it was only a slight change – from Fashion Design to Fashion Merchandising. I made the switch without consulting anyone, on the very last day of the withdrawal period.

Even though it was no longer required, I stayed in a design course. At the end of that class, we threw a small party to celebrate the seniors. We sat together, eating and talking about our plans and memories. Suddenly, the conversation turned to me and my super-convincing major switch.

Dr. [Eunyoung] Yang looked me straight in the eye and told me not to give up on design. She spoke of my talents and my fears and said she didn’t know who I was trying to fool, because she couldn’t see me doing anything else. One by one, all my peers chimed in. They encouraged me and reminded me of the beautiful things I’d created, and the potential I’d be giving up just because something felt hard. Everyone at that table saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself, and that’s a moment I’ll carry with me forever. Dr. Yang wasn’t willing to watch me settle for less, and for that I’m so grateful.

I’m most proud of my senior collection, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. It was inspired by my Tanzanian roots and celebrated the fusion of African prints with upcycled denim. It represents both cultural heritage and sustainability – two things that matter deeply to me. I’ve never worked so hard or so long on a single project. It took over a year of preparation and months of staying in the sewing lab for hours at a time. The collection won first place in the “Intermediate and Beyond” category at the 27th annual African American Textile Society Fashion Exposé at NC State. That collection is a testament to my resilience and creativity. It proved to me that I can stay consistent and finish strong, even when things get hard.

Now, I have an amazing portfolio filled with a wide range of skills that I’ve developed here at Meredith. Beyond garment construction, I’ve learned about consumer behavior, trend forecasting, sustainability, merchandising, sketching, CAD software, data analysis, retail math, and more.

After graduation, I packed up and moved to Wisconsin to work as an apparel designer at Kohl’s! I had the opportunity to intern there last summer, and I’m so proud to be returning full-time. The work I did during the internship – and the support I received from Meredith – definitely helped me secure this role.”