Tamika A. Nurse Fashionista Memorial Scholarship

Nya Hopson Tamika A. Nurse Fashionista Memorial Scholarship June 11, 2023 According to Wikipedia, An “It girl” can be defined as "an attractive young woman who is perceived to have both sex appeal and a personality that is especially engaging”. However, to me, a true IT girl is much more than just sexual attraction. A proper IT girl is a woman who carries herself with class and has an element of mystique. In today's day and age, it is common to give so much of ourselves through vessels like social media. Whether it's sharing our lives, relationships, or bodies, everything is free game. Young women are encouraged to be as sexual as possible to be marketable, being influenced to commodify their bodies without a second thought. However, I believe that there is power in mystery and that some things are to be left to the imagination. True IT girls are women people look up to. They are the ones we aspire to be like because they are authentic to themselves. It has become normal to fit one stereotypical standard of women in today's society, but I say a real IT girl follows her own mind, moving with integrity and self-respect. IT girls are confident women know the power they hold within themselves. I believe it is possible to be an IT girl regardless of the industry you work in; it’s not solely exclusive to women in the fashion industry. Being an It girl is truly about navigating challenges with resilience, building meaningful connections, and leveraging opportunities for growth and advancement. As a woman aspiring to be in the fashion industry, I plan to apply my own rules about being an IT girl as well as Ms.Tamika Nurse’s. In her book, Ms.Nurse advises girls to be proactive in their career development. I find these rules especially important because, as an undergrad student, it can be very intimidating to chase your dreams and get out of your comfort zone. I have had times where I doubt myself and second guess my abiites. However, the only way we will grow is by seeking new challenges and being open to new opportunities. Dreams do not work unless we do. Additionally, Ms.Nurse teaches us the power of building your resume. An impressive resume can help set you apart from the competition by showcasing your skills and experiences. This is why it has become a personal goal of mine to gain experience and knowledge through serving my community. Service has become a massive part of my life these last few years as a rising/current college student. I want to indulge in giving back to my community. Impacting communities of black youth is vital to me. I want to use my future experiences, resources, and successes to inspire and uplift the next generation. I can help bridge gaps in education, economic access, and representation by providing mentorship, support, and opportunities. I want to give those behind me safe spaces to be creative. I would one day like to open a maker space centered around encouraging children's interest in visual arts, such as fashion, photography, ceramics, etc., in the community. Giving back creates a sense of solidarity and empowerment, ensuring that young people of color see role models who look like them and understand their specific challenges. Investing in the growth and development of black youth not only strengthens our communities but also contributes to a more equitable and just society.

Hey Alexa, play IT Girl (clean version) by Aliyah’s Interlude. The actress Yara Shahidi once said, “If you can see her, you can be her.” I see an IT girl and what's so cool about her is her faith in God and herself, her confidence but humbleness, her high-maintenance appearance, and most importantly, her growth: mindset. Becoming this woman was and still is not easy. Growing up in a Black-American household and a Liberian household, it was expected of me to work towards a job in the STEM field. When I told my parents I wanted to work in fashion, they instantly shot my dream down by telling me I would not be able to support myself in the future and that it was a waste of my intelligence. Though I wanted to prove them wrong, I still found it necessary to take their advice. So I worked hard at school to get a full-ride scholarship for college, took dual enrollment classes at my local community college that center around business management, enrolled in as many fashion school webinars about business from FIDM to Parsons, and started my own virtual styling business. Over time, I started ignoring the fashion aspect of business out of self-doubt and fear over my future and the financial sacrifices I would have to make to grow. I thought it was best to get a high-paying office job and do real estate on the side. This was the plan until one Sunday. This life-altering lesson occurred at the church and the scripture was (Matthew 21:18-22). As my pastor extraordinarily explained this by breaking the text down to us and the crowd, he said, “Focus on the fruit, not the fear.” Those six words formed together were so powerful that I tried to get back into fashion. I emailed an up-and-coming brand from my state asking to be an intern and when she said yes, I knew it was meant to be. I was blessed enough to see and learn the ins and outs of running a brand and what people need. Then I took two fashion courses at LIM College summer camp. When I was there, self-doubt feelings, and thoughts came slithering on me like a dirty snake. I felt so different as I was the only black woman. The lack of diversity inspired me to help Black creatives who want to start a business, but do not know how to. Starting a creative agency centered catered towards Black creatives would give them the voice they never had, and full creative freedom. This dream may seem wild but I am only 17 and through hard work I have made pretty strong connections in the fashion industry. When I leave this world, I want to see Black fashion designers and fashion students feeling confident in themselves and standing out because they saw a sister like me do it first.