Three important people sparked my love of art and my goal of becoming a designer—my grandmother, my teacher, and a famous artist. As a child, my grandmother taught me how to draw animals using simple geometric shapes. I loved spending those times with her and seeing how these shapes created a beautiful picture. In my freshman year of high school, I told my Biology teacher, Dr. Calleri, about my interest in art. He shared that his hobby is sewing. His mother was a seamstress and taught him to sew. Dr. Calleri brought some of the garments he made to school to show me. His designs are made of durable and sustainable fabrics because he believes that fashion should be long-lasting and made to withstand all types of weather conditions. I soon became interested in fashion and its connection to science, especially environmental issues. Now my drawings and designs often consist of plants and animals. As my enthusiasm for fashion design grew, I watched documentaries about various fashion designers and icons such as Coco Chanel, Andre Leon Talley, and Bethann Hardison. I loved hearing about their experiences and how they started in the fashion industry. But it was The Insane True Story of Virgil Abloh documentary on YouTube and Abloh’s story that captivated me the most. Abloh was an exceptionally talented and accomplished designer, and he and I have a similar background. He was Black, middle-class, and from Illinois. Some of the most famous and influential designers I was familiar with, such as Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy, are White, and many came from different socioeconomic backgrounds that helped them start and grow their brands. Yet as a Black man, Abloh became an accomplished, sought-after designer with a highly successful brand in fashion, shoes, and furniture. Few Black designers have achieved so much. Because of Virgil Abloh, I saw the possibility of becoming highly successful and influential in the competitive fashion industry. A spark was ignited in me by my grandmother, my biology teacher, and Virgil Abloh. I take every opportunity to learn my craft and pursue my passion. Last summer, I participated in a six-week program, Red Sprinkle Fashion Bootcamp. We learned to design and construct outfits for a mock editorial photo shoot. The craft came fairly quickly to me, and I was able to help teach other students tips and tricks on how to sew. I valued this class because I was able to hone my sewing and design skills as well as learn about the fashion industry. I’m fortunate to have been shaped by three important people who have led me to this path. In college, I plan to pursue a design major with a minor in environmental studies. This essentially merges my passions and advocacy for the environment. I want to investigate ways to design products or spaces that better the environment and reduce the harm that people cause to the Earth while still incorporating an artistic flair with a creative design process and outcome.

I am deeply passionate about solving the drastic challenge of overconsumption. Overconsumption is when people consume more resources than they produce. Essentially, it's consuming more products and materials than necessary. Overconsumption is an increasingly significant problem worldwide. People are constantly buying and discarding clothing at an alarming rate. Massive amounts of clothing waste increase pollution and exacerbate the Earth's global warming issues. To help combat this problem, I volunteered at The Bridge Thrift Store, which relies solely on donations of items ranging from clothing to home goods. Thirty-one percent of the profits support their sister organization, The Bridge Teen Center, which provides a constructive environment for teenagers in the neighborhood after school, offering various activities and skills to learn. In the thrift store, they sort and sell everything at a reasonably reduced price. I chose to volunteer here to investigate better solutions to overconsumption, as well as pursue my interests in fashion design and its connection to environmental science. Working at a thrift store helped me understand the process and one of the many potential solutions to the climate crisis. During my volunteer hours, I often stocked clothes on the proper racks and handled floor and closing tasks, ensuring the store remained orderly and clean. My favorite job was sorting and straightening the donations that came in daily. In the back of the store, a few other volunteers and I would sift through a massive pile of bags filled with donated clothes and other items, ensuring they were in good condition and could be resold. Not only do thrift stores provide a better solution to overconsumption, but they also offer people the chance to purchase clothes they wouldn't have otherwise, due to economic constraints or overall lack of diversity in the fashion market. While I was volunteering at the thrift store, I was able to gain more of an understanding of another community that I don’t live in. The Bridge Thrift Store is in Orland Park, the suburbs on the outskirts of Chicago. Volunteering in this area gave me the chance to meet and talk to people who lived in a smaller town as opposed to a city as large as Chicago. Orland Park seems to be a very tight-knit community; people would often pass on information through word of mouth, and were always willing to donate. Even the number of volunteers lived close to the store, and many went to the same school. It showed how the members of the community care for and support each other. During the summer and spring months, I plan to work at nature reserves and parks to help keep them clean. In the future, I hope to explore more ways to address environmental issues. I will always appreciate my time volunteering at The Bridge Thrift Store and will continue using the skills I learned to incorporate them into my daily life. I am taking an environmental science class to learn more about the environment and advocating for such issues. In college, I plan to major in design and minor in environmental studies. I want to investigate ways to design products or spaces that better the environment and reduce the harm that people cause to the Earth.

Three important people sparked my love of art and my goal of becoming a designer—my grandmother, my teacher, and a famous artist. As a child, my grandmother taught me how to draw animals using simple geometric shapes. I loved spending those times with her and seeing how these shapes created a beautiful picture. In my freshman year of high school, I told my Biology teacher, Dr. Calleri, about my interest in art. He shared that his hobby is sewing. His mother was a seamstress and taught him to sew. Dr. Calleri brought some of the garments he made to school to show me. His designs are made of durable and sustainable fabrics because he believes that fashion should be long-lasting and made to withstand all types of weather conditions. I soon became interested in fashion and its connection to science, especially environmental issues. Now my drawings and designs often consist of plants and animals. As my enthusiasm for fashion design grew, I watched documentaries about various fashion designers and icons such as Coco Chanel, Andre Leon Talley, and Bethann Hardison. I loved hearing about their experiences and how they started in the fashion industry. But it was The Insane True Story of Virgil Abloh documentary on YouTube and Abloh’s story that captivated me the most. Abloh was an exceptionally talented and accomplished designer, and he and I have a similar background. He was Black, middle-class, and from Illinois. Some of the most famous and influential designers I was familiar with, such as Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy are White, and many came from different socioeconomic backgrounds that helped them start and grow their brands. Yet as a Black man, Abloh became an accomplished, sought-after designer with a highly successful brand in fashion, shoes, and furniture. Few Black designers have achieved so much. Because of Virgil Abloh, I saw the possibility of becoming highly successful and influential in the competitive fashion industry. A spark was ignited in me by my grandmother, biology teacher, and Virgil Abloh. I take every opportunity to learn my craft and pursue my passion. Last summer, I participated in a six-week program, Red Sprinkle Fashion Bootcamp. We learned to design and construct outfits for a mock editorial photo shoot. The craft came fairly quickly to me, and I was able to help teach other students tips and tricks on how to sew. I valued this class because I was able to hone my sewing and design skills as well as learn about the fashion industry. I’m fortunate to have been shaped by three important people who have led me to this path.

Recently, I volunteered at The Bridge Thrift Store, which relies solely on donations of items ranging from clothing to home goods. Thirty-one percent of the profits support their sister organization, The Bridge Teen Center, which provides a constructive environment for teenagers in the neighborhood after school, offering various activities and skills to learn. In the thrift store, they sort everything and sell at a reasonably reduced price. I chose to volunteer here because overconsumption is an increasingly significant problem worldwide. People are constantly buying and discarding clothing at an alarming rate. I have also always been interested in fashion, clothing, and the sustainability of thrift stores. Working at a thrift store helped me understand the process and one of many potential solutions to the climate crisis. During my volunteer hours, I often stocked clothes on the proper racks and handled floor and closing tasks, ensuring the store remained orderly and clean. My favorite job was sorting and straightening the donations that came in daily. In the back of the store, a few other volunteers and I would sift through a massive pile of bags filled with donated clothes and other items, ensuring they were in good condition and could be resold. Overconsumption is a significant issue worldwide, and recycling and reusing clothes benefit everyone. While I was volunteering at the thrift store, I was able to gain more of an understanding of another community that I don’t live in. The Bridge Thrift Store is in Orland Park, the suburbs on the outskirts of Chicago. Volunteering in this area gave me the chance to meet and talk to some people who lived in a smaller town as opposed to a city as large as Chicago. Orland Park seemed to be a very tight-knit community, people would often pass on information through word of mouth and people were always willing to donate. Even the amount of volunteers lived in the close vicinity of the store and most went to the same school. It showed how the members of the community care for and support each other. During the summer and spring months, I plan to work at nature reserves and parks to help keep them clean. In the future, I hope to explore more ways to address environmental issues. I will always appreciate my time volunteering at The Bridge Thrift Store and will continue using the skills I learned to incorporate them into my daily life.

Recently, I volunteered at The Bridge Thrift Store, which relies solely on donations of items ranging from clothing to home goods. Thirty-one percent of the profits support their sister organization, The Bridge Teen Center, which provides a constructive environment for teenagers in the neighborhood after school, offering various activities and skills to learn. In the thrift store, they sort everything and sell at a reasonably reduced price. I chose to volunteer here because overconsumption is an increasingly significant problem worldwide. People are constantly buying and discarding clothing at an alarming rate. I have also always been interested in fashion, clothing, and the sustainability of thrift stores. Working at a thrift store helped me understand the process and one of many potential solutions to the climate crisis. During my volunteer hours, I often stocked clothes on the proper racks and handled floor and closing tasks, ensuring the store remained orderly and clean. My favorite job was sorting and straightening the donations that came in daily. In the back of the store, a few other volunteers and I would sift through a massive pile of bags filled with donated clothes and other items, ensuring they were in good condition and could be resold. Overconsumption is a significant issue worldwide, and recycling and reusing clothes benefit everyone. While I was volunteering at the thrift store, I was able to gain more of an understanding of another community that I don’t live in. The Bridge Thrift Store is in Orland Park, the suburbs on the outskirts of Chicago. Volunteering in this area gave me the chance to meet and talk to some people who lived in a smaller town as opposed to a city as large as Chicago. Orland Park seemed to be a very tight-knit community, people would often pass on information through word of mouth and people were always willing to donate. Even the amount of volunteers lived in the close vicinity of the store and most went to the same school. It showed how the members of the community care for and support each other. During the summer and spring months, I plan to work at nature reserves and parks to help keep them clean. In the future, I hope to explore more ways to address environmental issues. I will always appreciate my time volunteering at The Bridge Thrift Store and will continue using the skills I learned to incorporate them into my daily life.

Three important people sparked my love of art and my goal of becoming a designer—my grandmother, my teacher, and a famous artist. As a child, my grandmother taught me how to draw animals using simple geometric shapes. I loved spending those times with her and seeing how these shapes created a beautiful picture. In my freshman year of high school, I told my Biology teacher, Dr. Calleri, about my interest in art. He shared that his hobby is sewing. His mother was a seamstress and taught him to sew. Dr. Calleri brought some of the garments he made to school to show me. His designs are made of durable and sustainable fabrics because he believes that fashion should be long-lasting and made to withstand all types of weather conditions. I soon became interested in fashion and its connection to science, especially environmental issues. Now my drawings and designs often consist of plants and animals. As my enthusiasm for fashion design grew, I watched documentaries about various fashion designers and icons such as Coco Chanel, Andre Leon Talley, and Bethann Hardison. I loved hearing about their experiences and how they started in the fashion industry. But it was The Insane True Story of Virgil Abloh documentary on YouTube and Abloh’s story that captivated me the most. Abloh was an exceptionally talented and accomplished designer, and he and I have a similar background. He was Black, middle-class, and from Illinois. Some of the most famous and influential designers I was familiar with, such as Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy are White, and many came from different socioeconomic backgrounds that helped them start and grow their brands. Yet as a Black man, Abloh became an accomplished, sought-after designer with a highly successful brand in fashion, shoes, and furniture. Few Black designers have achieved so much. Because of Virgil Abloh, I saw the possibility of becoming highly successful and influential in the competitive fashion industry. A spark was ignited in me by my grandmother, biology teacher, and Virgil Abloh. I take every opportunity to learn my craft and pursue my passion. Last summer, I participated in a six-week program, Red Sprinkle Fashion Bootcamp. We learned to design and construct outfits for a mock editorial photo shoot. The craft came fairly quickly to me and I was able to help teach other students tips and tricks on how to sew. I valued this class because I was able to hone my sewing and design skills as well as learn about the fashion industry. I’m fortunate to have been shaped by three important people who have led me to this path.

Recently, I volunteered at The Bridge Thrift Store, which relies solely on donations of items ranging from clothing to home goods. Thirty-one percent of the profits support their sister organization, The Bridge Teen Center, which provides a constructive environment for teenagers in the neighborhood after school, offering various activities and skills to learn. In the thrift store, they sort everything and sell at a reasonably reduced price. I chose to volunteer here because overconsumption is an increasingly significant problem worldwide. People are constantly buying and discarding clothing at an alarming rate. I have always been interested in fashion, clothing, and the sustainability of thrift stores. Working at a thrift store helped me understand the process and one of many potential solutions to the climate crisis. During my volunteer hours, I often stocked clothes on the proper racks and handled floor and closing tasks, ensuring the store remained orderly and clean. My favorite job was sorting and straightening the donations that came in daily. In the back of the store, a few other volunteers and I would sift through a massive pile of bags filled with donated clothes and other items, ensuring they were in good condition and could be resold. Overconsumption is a significant issue worldwide, and recycling and reusing clothes benefit everyone. During the summer and spring months, I plan to work at nature reserves and parks to help keep them clean. In the future, I hope to explore more ways to address environmental issues. I will always appreciate my time volunteering at The Bridge Thrift Store and will continue using the skills I learned to incorporate them into my daily life.

Three important people sparked my love of art and my goal of becoming a designer—my grandmother, my teacher, and a famous artist. As a child, my grandmother taught me how to draw animals using simple geometric shapes. I loved spending those times with her and seeing how these shapes created a beautiful picture. In my freshman year of high school, I told my Biology teacher, Dr. Calleri, about my interest in art. He shared that his hobby is sewing. His mother was a seamstress and taught him to sew. Dr. Calleri brought some of the garments he made to school to show me. His designs are made of durable and sustainable fabrics because he believes that fashion should be long-lasting and made to withstand all types of weather conditions. I soon became interested in fashion and its connection to science, especially environmental issues. Now my drawings and designs often consist of plants and animals. As my enthusiasm for fashion design grew, I watched documentaries about various fashion designers and icons such as Coco Chanel, Andre Leon Talley, and Bethann Hardison. I loved hearing about their experiences and how they started in the fashion industry. But it was The Insane True Story of Virgil Abloh documentary on YouTube and Abloh’s story that captivated me the most. Abloh was an exceptionally talented and accomplished designer, and he and I have a similar background. He was Black, middle-class, and from Illinois. Some of the most famous and influential designers I was familiar with, such as Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy are White, and many came from different socioeconomic backgrounds that helped them start and grow their brands. Yet as a Black man, Abloh became an accomplished, sought-after designer with a highly successful brand in fashion, shoes, and furniture. Few Black designers have achieved so much. Because of Virgil Abloh, I saw the possibility of becoming highly successful and influential in the competitive fashion industry. A spark was ignited in me by my grandmother, biology teacher, and Virgil Abloh. I take every opportunity to learn my craft and pursue my passion. Last summer, I participated in a six-week program, Red Sprinkle Fashion Bootcamp. We learned to design and construct outfits for a mock editorial photo shoot. The craft came fairly quickly to me and I was able to help teach other students tips and tricks on how to sew. I valued this class because I was able to hone my sewing and design skills as well as learn about the fashion industry. I’m fortunate to have been shaped by three important people who have led me to this path.