Hello! My name is Joseph, and I am an eighteen-year-old first-year student at Parsons School of Design. As I step into adulthood, I feel a mix of excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. Graduating from high school marks the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with challenges and opportunities. This next step means not only advancing my education but also pursuing my passion for fashion design. Fashion must go beyond superficial beauty; it needs to embody values of sustainability, inclusivity, and creativity. With growing concerns over environmental sustainability and social inequality, it’s clear that the fashion industry must evolve. As a designer, I want to contribute to this evolution, creating fashion that is not only beautiful but responsible. Fashion should drive positive change, addressing environmental harm and amplifying marginalized voices. This vision excites me—fashion grounded in sustainability, inclusivity, and emotional depth. We are witnessing a shift in the industry, with designers and brands embracing eco-friendly materials, circular production, and fair labor practices. But there’s more to be done. As a future designer, I want to push boundaries, creating pieces that transcend trends and stand as lasting statements of purpose, emotion, and culture.