Thursday, March 31, 2016

Teach a Person to Fish/Sew

My daughter Beaner works for a not-for-profit that helps young people who have social disadvantages or have had some problems with the law try to get on a professional track.  Last year she started working with a young high school student who wants to be a fashion designer. They started researching colleges and began working on her applications and the required portfolio. She had okay grades but an obvious talent for design, (said by a person who lives in baggy jeans and ‘Life is Good’ t-shirts) but all the fashion schools required that along with a portfolio of designs, that she submit photos of pieces she had made herself.  She had a creative talent but she didn’t have a sewing machine and she didn’t know how to sew.


So Beaner got a sewing machine donated and then asked me to teach her.  Almost every Tuesday night last year she and I would meet in Beaner’s offices to sew. She had to carry that heavy machine to school in the morning, and then on a city bus to get to the office and then another bus to get home. Her dedication to this effort has amazing. I just showed up and had a lot of fun.


A couple of days ago she got a rejection from her first choice college and we were all bummed.. But then yesterday came an acceptance to her second choice - FIT - the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City!  She and Beaner are now feverishly working on scholarships.


My volunteer work these days centers mostly on elderly or sick people. But I see the appeal of working with young folks and my daughter’s career goals of “just being able to help one person change their life.”  It is an incredibly satisfying feeling for me to have been even a small part of this young woman’s dream. And I am so frickin’ proud of my daughter’s hard work and dedication to living her dream.


Of course, there is a quid pro quo for me.  I have extracted a promise that when this woman becomes a famous fashion designer, I will get a front row seat to the fashion show runway and rub elbows with the rich and famous.  


But first, she’ll have to make me something to wear.


10 comments:

  1. Love. Love. Love What's not to ab fab love. Bravura to all hands and hearts and minds. :-)

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    1. Even though my part was a teeny tiny fraction of the effort, I am feeling like a proud mama. I just hope that in such an unstructured environment, that she is able to stay on track.

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  2. that is a prestigious acceptance. it's one of the top schools in fashion design and what a location, across from bryant park. i love that you and beaner have helped in this way. i imagine this young woman on my favorite show, project runway.

    i also love the one person-change the world approach. my profession has often allowed me to practice this and every single effort i've given i've gotten back. i'm blessed from that.

    i hope all is well in your end of the state. i hope your daffodils are open.

    love
    kj

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    1. A very prestigious acceptance especially since all her other choices rejected her. FIT obviously saw the diamond in the rough.

      Daffodils are up (at least the ones the dog didn't dig up) and look ready to open. Hoping the predicted snow won't hurt them.

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  3. fashioning up a life is good shirt... could be a whole new look.
    you should be proud - that is awesome!

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    1. You might be able to market that idea to Life is Good. I would love if they had a professional attire line : )

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  4. What a rewarding input and such fun. I do hope all works out OK for her. She will never forget Beaner or you:)

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    1. She had all the stress. I had all the fun!

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  5. Wow! Dedication all around. Seriously, Beaner, the student, and you, (yes you!) all committed to this endeavour, and saw it through to a wonderful conclusion. (Of course, it's not a conclusion at all, but it's a huge step forward!) The three of you must be beaming!

    Also: I'm super impressed that you could teach someone how to make clothes. PROPS! Big props!

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    1. My mom taught me to sew (I still have her sewing machine) and I used to make most of my own clothes in my hungry years. Now, with the price of materials and notions it is usually cheaper to buy clothes. Sad but true. Still I tried to teach my girls but they didn't get much past pajamas pants.

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