My name is Jose Bonifacio Velasquez- Jose honors my late bisabuela, Bonifacio comes from my abuelo, and Velasquez—though a common name—is carried with deep pride by my one-of-a-kind family. I am a second year student enrolled at Parsons School of Design located in the fashion capital of the western hemisphere, New York City. Coming from Texas, entering such a fast-paced, competitive environment was initially intimidating. However, the foundation my family has laid (rooted in resilience, heritage, and creativity) has prepared me to not only adapt, but thrive. As I continue to grow as a designer, I remain grounded in where I come from and where the next chapter of my life takes me. As the third-born child of my parents, Juan and Maria Velasquez, I was born into a family that came to America not just with a blank slate, but one already burdened by limitations—most notably, a lack of formal education. My parents immigrated from Guatemala in pursuit of a better life, not only for themselves but for the family they hoped to raise. In making that courageous leap, they left behind far more than their homeland. They sacrificed cherished loved ones, traditions, cultural identity, and, perhaps most profoundly, their own dreams, all in the hope that their children might one day realize theirs. My own dream sparked at a young age, around seven or eight, when I began experimenting with filmmaking on my Nintendo console. That first spark of creativity quickly grew, leading me to explore architecture, fine arts, and eventually, fashion design. Like many first-generation Americans, I was often reminded of the importance of choosing a stable, secure career. But I chose a different path—one that felt uncertain but true to who I am. To my surprise, my parents supported my decision and encouraged me to aim higher, which ultimately led me to Parsons. Being a first-generation American has shown me both the pain and the promise of coming to America. I’ve witnessed the emotional cost—leaving behind everything familiar, facing uncertainty, and feeling out of place. But I’ve also seen the resilience it takes to start over, the determination to build a better life, and the hope that comes with new beginnings. My family’s journey taught me that while America offers opportunity, it also presents complex challenges. It’s this mix of struggle and hope that shapes my understanding of the American experience and guides me in my future. I believe that this experience has truly shaped the person I am today. I recognize that everything my family and others before me have sacrificed — from leaving their homes to endure hardships in pursuit of a better life — is why I have the opportunities I do now. Every step they took, every struggle they faced, has paved the way for me to be here today, and I carry that with me as a constant reminder of the value of resilience and hope. Along the way, I’ve met many others who share a similar journey, people who, like me, are working toward a better future. These connections are a source of strength, knowing that we are all pushing through the present with the understanding that today’s efforts are meant to secure a brighter tomorrow. It's in these shared experiences and collective aspirations that I find comfort, even when I'm far from home — because I know I’m not alone in this journey. Portfolio Link : https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ciY5xezwSv0Wh44hQrwKLK_QuqPM_v6X7UFaH49wnXg/edit?usp=sharing

The lost written records of oppressed lived experiences throughout human history are just that- lost due to the passage of time. However, there are many more ways to translate these lived experiences that transcend language and the ability to read or write- and that is through fashion. As Miuccia Prada stated in 2007, “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts go so fast. Fashion is instant language.” For me, fashion has always been a tool of storytelling and resistance- a way to channel the emotions, struggles, and joy of individuals. In today's world, it seems more and more each day that personal identity is increasingly under threat; politically, socially, and culturally. As creatives of design, don't we have the responsibility of challenging this growing shrinkage of self-expression? Because unlike any other art form there is, fashion stands out for its practicality and immediacy within our everyday lives. It is more than just tangible pieces of clothing, it holds the power to transform and transcend into a form of not only self-expression but also a form of escapism that can positively change one’s life- empowering individuals to embrace and celebrate who they are. As an incoming second-year Fashion Design student at Parsons School of Design, I intend to use my education not only to refine my technical skills, but to root my work in community and connection. As a first-generation college student from a working-class background, getting into a prestigious institution like Parsons felt like an impossible dream—but I got here through resilience, creativity, and a deep belief in the transformative power of fashion. Attending a school that celebrates those from different walks of life, I constantly strive to become more informed about the diverse lived experiences in the world. At its core, isn’t that what design is meant for? Visual communication. In addition to designing, I’ve also explored the power of fashion publication and how it creates a necessary platform for designs to be seen. Through publication, I’ve learned how to craft visual narratives that contextualize fashion in ways design alone cannot—and vice versa. Fashion is my chosen language, one that doesn’t require fluency in words to be understood. Through it, I plan to document the undocumented, honor that is overlooked, and remind the world that individualism goes beyond aesthetics- it is escapism, it is resistance, it is hope.

The hustle and bustle of the ever-so changing world of fashion brings with it; constant innovation, the power of empowerment, room for collaboration, and necessary diversity led by visionary and self-expressive creatives. Such a field holds so much admirable gems within its influential brow that it makes me proud and impassioned to, as an aspiring designer, enter its world. From curating garments based on my love and passion for storytelling, to the intertwining of my vision for the arts towards people and experiences, I aspire to bring fashion back to the forefront of being more than just pretty fabric and fads. Something I noticed firsthand was the constant innovation brought on by designers as seen through their creations, structures, fabric choice, etc as a form of self expression. These designers would bring something new, something fresh, something unique every season in order to reflect what they were feeling, loving, and overall eagerly anticipating to share with the world. This form of expression struck fourteen year old me with admiration and a yearning to be a part of the industry as I too had (and continue to have) so much to say, that I would like to convey through the notion of fashion. When done right and with strong conviction, fashion; with its garments, fabric, cuts, etc., can also empower those who wear it by giving a sense of self-confidence so influential, that it can help us navigate the world everyday. This potential is constantly seen within the fashion industry as many designers curate original designs that complements one’s self, so much so that it can reflect one’s desire to express themselves in a way that feels authentic to themselves; thus promoting one’s empowerment. To add on, the field of fashion itself can be a playground for forward thinking artists, brands, designers, models, etc to all come together and collaborate with one another in order to produce diverse pieces that is essential to the world of fashion. As I have grown older and seen just how meaningful relationships can be, I too admire just how strong and significant these collaborations are, not just for the sake of fashion, but also for driving innovation to the forefront and encouraging creativity. Lastly, I was (and continue to be) driven by my field for its rise in diversity and inclusivity within race, body types, genders, disability, sexuality, etc, especially seen within recent times as it amplifies the voices of those that have previously been discouraged. Through my lens as an ambitious designer with a love of depicting not only human experiences, but also accounts of the world around us, I am sure and hopeful that I can make a difference within the fashion industry. To me, fashion is so much more than just the surface level visuals, its the ability to tell a story through weaves of notions, the way the fabric sits on top the body, design techniques, the specific colors, fabric choice, everything really.

What do being crushed by a meteorite, struck by lightning, becoming president, or winning the olympic gold medal all have in common? Their likely chance of coming into fruition is more higher than winning the “real golden ticket of life”- the lottery. With a one in three million chance of beating the odds and winning, it is no surprise that this thought, this hope, this dream is just too good to be possible let alone plausible. However, that never stopped my dad from trying his hand at obtaining a win. For my dad, he (like many) correlated money to success and saw the lottery as a chance to accomplish this; not only for those around him, but also those in need. You see, my dad has a big heart that pumps blood for everyone around him, while not asking for anything in return. However, he (like many) never won. This idea of accomplishment equaling money is something that many see when describing their idea of success for themselves. However, there are those that equate success with something that goes beyond the quantity of money, and that is the quality of your efforts in making an impact. The face of success to me is something that is constantly changing as I myself am evolving everyday into the person I hope to one day be. In today’s day and age, I would define success as not only making an impact on the people around you, but doing so in a way that feels genuine and authentic to yourself as well. To do so, one must think with conviction, do aside passion, and lead with compassion; and for me, with my belief of character, passion in fashion and drive for perseverance, I aim to surely accomplish that. Through the eight month process of making my fashion portfolio for college applications, I learned that fashion was much more than just a combination of visually appealing fabrics and structures; it’s a form of storytelling that conveys messages, feelings, and character through every nation within the garment itself. This completely changed my perceptive of fashion as I yearned more and more to communicate universally to all kinds of people through the depiction of what I made. So, I prioritized this principle at the forefront of everything I thought of, designed, and eventually created. For instance, one of my garments is a dress that was created with the structure of a swan in mind to symbolize purity of any kind; all be it a feeling, a person, and/or an experience. However, the dress itself also has a beaded slash within the stomach area to represent the killing of that said purity. This piece, for those that have seen it, have interpreted it all the same through lenses of different experiences, as a result, they saw themselves in something that I had made. That to me was success as I had accomplished the language of universal storytelling in the form of something I was passionate about for the sake of my principles. I would like to continue this effort and endeavor of mine beyond now through my enrollment within one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the globe. However, the cost of enrollment (even after the dissection of my financial aid package) fails to cover a large portion of it. And yes, I am aware that attending a fashion school (regardless of its rank) doesn’t equate to having a sealed future. However, with their facility resources, professors, environment, connections with internships, and much more, I know that I can cultivate everything given to me to ensure that I strive and accomplish my goals for the vision of my future success. It is for this that I won't give up on myself and my dreams because I know that I am capable of accomplishing everything I put my mind into and so much more. This scholarship opportunity would be that stepping stone towards my future.

I have never been the most smartest person in my class. While my classmates and peers got recognized for their academic excellence throughout the years; with medals, trophies, certificates and candies, I hopefully sat in my chair for any sort of acknowledgement. Yet, I never did. Instead I was noticed, seen, and admired for my creativity. Though I woefully underestimated it at the time, I now see that it was more than I could ever truly want. Through my experiences, emotion, and passion I aspire to not only bring storytelling to the forefront of fashion again, but to sew a connection between the person and design. This goal of mine has always been present in anything I did really; from the short stop motion videos I produced when I was eight on my Nintendo 3ds, to now as I am about to turn eighteen with my designs. To me, the storytelling of anything I did was the foundation of the message I was trying to convey regardless of the expressed notion and form; dough and paint, to metal and fabric. To make art without this essential foundation would be like driving without the wheel- its necessary in everyway. However now as I am diving deeper into the fashion industry, I have realized that this has dissipated from it all. For centuries, fashion garments have told an unspoken story through its notions and structure in order to convey a message; all be it positive or negative. And yes, through the years we have seen innovation and immense talent within the industry yet the main focus of storytelling has been exchanged for the presentation of hollow fads. I would like to change this through making designs with a story, with a message, with a connection to the person. And through my experiences as not only a first generation hispanic student, but also an expressive person of many passions, I know I can do exactly that because I know that fashion is much more than pretty fabrics with nice techniques, its art. Four years ago, I wondered many things about the future; many things I couldn’t control, stuff I couldn’t foresee. Yet, I knew in my body and soul that I would make it to one of the best fashion schools. And I did that very thing. Now I am (as before) walking into the unknown with nothing but my ambitious dreams and hopes- to help revive fashion. In the future, I’m going to have even more experiences, even more emotion, even more passion. I know this because based on my fashion journey of the last four years, I have achieved a lot in not only my work, but also in my mind and drive. I did my research of fashion and devoted time and effort into it when I was fifteen, I dedicated my time at school; taking business class and eventually becoming certified as a Microsoft Office specialist. Last year I preserved through those who understand me and sewed seven original designs for my fashion portfolio. Now I am preparing for the next chapter of my life, with fashion, and its art form, as we take on what’s on the horizon. I know this because fashion and it’s essence has been there for me throughout my in many ways, and now I will do the same for fashion.

Micro-minis yesterday, structured peplums today, and metal-infused tanks for tomorrow. The hustle and bustle of the ever-so changing world of fashion brings with it; constant innovation, the power of empowerment, room for collaboration, and necessary diversity led by visionary and self-expressive creatives. Such a field holds so much admirable gems within its influential brow that it makes me proud and impassioned to, as an aspiring designer, enter its world. From curating garments based on my love and passion for storytelling, to the intertwining of my vision for the arts towards people and experiences, I aspire to bring fashion back to the forefront of being more than just pretty visuals. Something I noticed firsthand was the constant innovation brought on by designers as seen through their creations, structures, fabric choice, etc as a form of self expression. These designers would bring something new, something fresh, something unique every season in order to reflect what they were feeling, loving, and overall eagerly anticipating to share with the world. This form of expression struck fourteen year old me with admiration and a yearning to be a part of the industry as I too had (and continue to have) so much to say, that I would like to convey through the notion of fashion. When done right and with strong conviction, fashion; with its garments, fabric, cuts, etc., can also empower those who wear it by giving a sense of self-confidence so influential, that it can help us navigate the world everyday. This potential is constantly seen within the fashion industry as many designers curate original designs that complements one’s self, so much so that it can reflect one’s desire to express themselves in a way that feels authentic to themselves; thus promoting one’s empowerment. To add on, the field of fashion can be a playground for forward thinking designers, artists, etc to all come together and collaborate with one another in order to produce diverse pieces that is essential to the world of fashion. As I have grown older and seen just how meaningful relationships can be, I too admire just how strong and significant these collaborations are, not just for the sake of fashion, but also for driving innovation to the forefront and encouraging creativity. Lastly, I was (and continue to be) driven by my field for its rise in diversity and inclusivity within race, body types, genders, disability, sexuality, etc, especially seen within recent times as it amplifies the voices of those that have previously been discouraged before. Through my lens as an ambitious designer with a love of depicting not only human experiences, but also accounts of the world around us, I am sure and hopeful that I can make a difference within the fashion industry. To me, fashion is so much more than just the surface level visuals, its the ability to tell a story through weaves of notions, the way the fabric sits on top the body, design techniques, the specific colors, fabric choice, everything really. At this point in my early career, I can't say what ill do in the future, I know for a fact that I would carry these principles and convictions with me as a designer because to me, its so important to cultivate beyond the visuals. I want to break barriers as a guatemalan-american designer, I want to take risks with my designs, I want to change the way fashion is seen and interpreted by the public, because to me, fashion has changed me so much throughout the years and I hope to one day do the same for the industry itself.