Shirt, jeans, belt, sneakers. Shirt, skirt, jacket, boots. Shirt, joggers, sneakers, headband. Shirt, jorts, baseball cap, sneakers. Same Shirt. Four ways. Since sophomore year, I’ve never repeated an outfit. My challenge began as a creative way to utilize clothing I’d never worn. My generous parents gifted me tons of clothing, yet I repeatedly reached for the same few outfits. I had piles of unworn clothing gathering dust in the dark of my closet. I felt remorseful for abusing my parents’ generosity because I was too scared to stand out as a freshman. I felt weak, and trapped within my own clothes. My “fit in” daily uniform? Leggings, hoodies, and sneakers. If I looked like the masses, I couldn’t be judged. Yet, as time passed, I realized my go-to outfits weren’t protection. The uniform wasn’t armor –it was a cage.There will always be people judging; why fall into a senseless rhythm of lackluster outfits? Why take the fun out of dressing for school? Sophomore year I decided enough was enough. That’s how my fashion challenge began. I, Addison Miller, will NOT repeat an outfit for the entirety of the school year. At first, it was tough being creative daily. But, eventually, inspiration struck. I became fashion-obsessed. I studied trends, read Vogue, and stalked brand media pages and merchandised windows. I used my resources to push my outfits further. Use a skirt as a dress, and a shirt as a skirt–endless options. With each creative outfit, my confidence grew. Clothing wasn’t a self-made cage: it was my strength–expression, creativity, confidence, and irreplaceable joy. I wanted to bring my experience to the masses, to help everyone find confidence in clothing. I created a “Fashion Club” at my school. We studied trends, drew fashion illustrations, did sewing projects, and wrote fashion articles for our school’s newspaper. Next, I got a stylist job at a high-end formal wear store where I learned fashion manufacturing and and marketing. I began studying industry options, and discovered my dream job: fashion buying. A fashion buyer is responsible for selecting and purchasing clothing for retail stores. This career would give me both the technical business and artistic side of fashion that I crave. Picking what clothing should be sold in stores involves not just statistics, but also trend forecasting, leadership, a strong work ethic, organizatio, and critical thinking–all skills I have spent time developing in my extracurriculars. My job taught me the value of knowing your target market to accurately predict what clothing customers want. As a varsity tennis player, I learned teamwork and communication. Being the Co-President of “Fashion Club” I learned Leadership. As “Fundraiser Coordinator” of the Environmental Club, I learned organization and media usage to promote events. I learned the idea-creation process with the Ohio National Watershed Competition, where I won First in the State. At Mock Trial competitions, I practiced persuading people with quick-paced problem-solving and critical thinking skills. I’ve intentionally chosen these experiences that have taught me foundational skills and dedicated my time to focusing on what will allow me to succeed in the fashion industry. Now with my impassioned goal for the future, and my fashion challenge slowly ending. I can repeat outfits without stress. This challenge pushed me into the person I am today, and instilled a lifelong passion within me. I can see my future clear as day: using my merchandising, marketing, and forecasting skills to sell the world a single shirt that can be worn in far more ways than just four. Shirt, jeans, belt, and sneakers. I will sell this to the world.

Sabrina Carpenter is more than just my favorite artist; she is my therapist, my confidante, my teacher, and my best friend. Her music has a special way of speaking directly to my soul and that's just...magical. She is the kind of artist who makes you feel like you're the only person in the world to whom she is speaking. Not to mention her voice has this raw, emotional quality that draws you in. That's part of why I'm so obsessed with her - her songs always feel pure and honest. Now I've been listening to Sabrina for many years. I think "Thumbs" was the first time I heard her music. I had seen her acting in a couple of Disney shows, but I didn't know she made music. The song “Thumbs” blew me away - the way she turned a simple relatable action into something so catchy and memorable is just genius. Also, her lyrics were so smart, and dynamic. She captivated me, and I had to listen more. The next album I dug my teeth into was, “Emails I Can’t Send”. I love how the whole album depicts her storytelling skills mixed with the real emotions she has experienced. You're feeling all these intense emotions and you just want to express them, but you know that if you actually hit send, it could have all these consequences you can't control. So the emotions just kind of...fester. That's what her album was, all those festering emotions finally coming out. What I think really sets Sabrina apart from other artists is her evaluation as an artist. You can hear it in her newest album, “Short N’ Sweet”. This album is on a whole different level from her earlier stuff - the songwriting is so much more mature and introspective. She's not afraid to get vulnerable and honest about her emotions while adding a flirty, sassy side. My favorite song on the album is "Please Please Please". I love how catchy and upbeat it is, but at the same time, the lyrics are so flirtatious yet strong. She adds complexity to her relationship by detailing she is passionately in love, but will drop him if he embarrasses her at any point. She even acknowledges that this guy is bad for her, but at the same time, she just can't help how she feels and wants to give him a chance. It is such an honest portrayal of what it's like to be in a situation like that. This song breathes feminine empowerment, as it shows woman can love tenderly yet protect themselves emotionally. Overall Sabrina Carpenter's music has had a huge impact on my life. When I'm feeling anxious or overwhelmed, listening to her songs makes me feel better. She has this way of putting complex emotions into words that are really relatable. It's helped me understand myself better and deal with my feelings in a healthier way. But more than that, Sabrina's music has made me stronger and more confident. Hearing her be so honest and vulnerable gives me the courage and strength to do the same. It's helped me find my own voice and stand up for myself. So yeah, Sabrina Carpenter is way more than just my favorite singer – she's a true role model. Her music has really changed my life for the better. Anyway, I could go on and on about Sabrina Carpenter. She's just so inspiring and fun. I know her music will be in my life indefinitely. I hope she continues to make music, and in return, I will remain a true and loyal fan.