Category Archives: In retrospect

Senioritis – Dealing With It

As we are nearing the end of the semester with only one month left of school, I am falling into the classic “senioritis” tendencies. This entire semester I have let my time and work management skills slip and it has had its consequences. I have not been keeping track of what projects are due or when their deadlines are, and I have been doing the homework just to get it done, not to learn from it. This is really unfortunate because if I take a step back, I can see that I am in a really exciting part of my time at FIT and I am not allowing myself to enjoy it.

This is a time when I should be pulling together all of the skills I’ve learned here at FIT and to practice them at their full potential. Instead, I’ve had this mindset that I am “done” with my academics and that I am ready to enter the industry full-time. While it might be true that I am ready and able to work full-time, it doesn’t mean that I should brush aside my schooling.

The first 3 years at FIT taught me all of the technical knowledge that I need to know, but this last year is about putting that knowledge to use. It is about how well you understand the information and how well you can put it into effect. It is also aimed at a managerial role, so this is a year where I can look past where I’ll be when I enter the work force and project myself to a higher position. This allows for a rare chance that I probably won’t have for several years where I can get in a managerial mindset and play out how certain decision affect a company and the work that ensues for the teams that I will be a part of in the real world.

I lost my source of motivation because I thought I had reached the end goal, but I still have lessons to learn in my last year. I need to change my thinking to allow for growth from my remaining classes, because it would truly be a shame if I or anyone went through their last year and wasted it.

 

Have you ever experienced “senioritis”? How did you deal with it?

Production Management Semester 2 Review

Semester 2 covers some other general business classes such as marketing and accounting. These are always good to know since they also play a large role in the workplace.

MG 132 – Marketing for Manufacturers

This was my first ever marketing class. I never thought that I would enjoy going through a marketing class, though this class changed my perspective. The final project is an accumulation of all the skills we learn in the class as we create a business proposal for original products. For the final project, we had to create a company name and logo, define our mission statement, give a SWOT analysis, detail our product line and give psychological and geographical reasoning behind our target market. I found the pyschographic and geographic data research the hardest but the most rewarding part of the project. It was really gratifying to find hard proof of why our product would sell to our target market. 

MG 242 – Principles of Accounting

My accounting professor was the most enthusiastic professor I have had to date. They emphasized that accounting doesn’t have to be approached or thought of as a boring work function. They supplied the class with great reference material and made sure each and every student knew the subject in full before moving on. We learned how to track expenses and income, and how to compile this information into financially accurate reports.

MG 253 – Object-Oriented Database Management

This is a fancy way of saying Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop class. Here, students will learn about the software interface and the tools available in each program. Teachers will supply exercise files and will walk the class through step by step to learn different techniques and applications using the software. I had never used any Adobe software before FIT, but thanks to this class I am very comfortable with the programs now and love learning new tips and tricks to make my work the best it can be. Midterm and finals in this class were a line plan for a single product including a mood-board, spec-sheet, and colorways.

Spec. sheet for my midterm

One of the colorways for my midterm.

Production Management Semester 1 Review

The Production Management major is a complex multifaceted program that can branch off and lead to many different job types in the industry. This can make it hard to understand what your time here at FIT could look like, so I’m going to start going over the courses in the major semester by semester and review and elaborate on them.

 

Semester 1 – Very rudimentary and foundational to your general understanding of basic fashion industry structure and procedures.

MG 108 – Apparel and Home Textile Products Manufacturing

This was my first ever class at FIT. I came into this school not knowing anything about businesses or how they are structured, or how the fashion industry even operates. This class taught me about all the different processes involved in the making of products and who is responsible for them. We also talked about one of the most important pieces of information in the production industry, a tech. pack, which is a detailing of what the product is made of and how to make it.

TS 115/TS 015 – Textiles for Production Management

Again, I didn’t know anything about apparel coming into FIT. This class gave me the foundational understanding of the different types of fabrics and how they are all made. We learned about the difference between woven and knit fabrics, the different types of each category, and we even got to see the machinery used to make these fabrics in person in the textile labs. We also learned about all the different types of fibers and materials that make up the fabric and the qualities of them. One of the coolest parts about this class was when we tested different fabrics in our textile lab to see if they would meet industry standards. FIT has a fully equipped textile testing lab with machinery that tests things from the strength, to the color fastness, and even the flammability of the fabric.

MG 153 – Excel for Business

This class helps students build one of the most commonly used skills in the production industry, Microsoft Excel. I use Excel every day at work to analyze and identify key information for our team, and this class helped me feel comfortable in taking responsibilities like this on. Professors use textbook and online material for students to reference in their homework and projects to help build relevant and comprehensive practice. You’ll learn how to format files, discover all sorts of formulas, and even learn about Pivot Tables. Excel has since become one of my favorite programs for organizing pretty much any type of information. It isn’t just for numbers, though it excels in that field. (I’m sorry I just had to). 

Which class would you be most excited for in your first semester at FIT?

An End and A Beginning

For One Last Time… Hey Everyone,

Two days ago, I officially graduated from FIT. The ceremony could not have taken place on a more perfect day. Now that I have finished college and can look back on my four years, I want to share a few of the most valuable takeaways I have from attending FIT.

Your Hard Work Will Be Rewarding: One of the most important things I built at FIT was my work ethic. With every project I had, I set aside time in order to put 100% of my heart into my work. My work ethic grew stronger and more secure as the years went on. By putting hard work into everything I did, I came out of school with an internship I learned from, a GPA I am proud of, and a portfolio I am excited to work with.

It Is Okay To Make Time For Yourself: Do not forget to make time to relax and enjoy all Manhattan has to offer. There is nothing wrong with slowing down and taking a break from the hours of hard work. Sometimes, breaks from projects give more room for ideas and brainstorming.

Failure Is NOT a Bad Thing: Not every project or assignment is going to go as planned. Now is the time to take chances and make mistakes. It is the time to try new things and learn how to make something better for the next time around. Do not let failure discourage you, but rather inspire you!

Always Be True to Your Passions and Aspirations…and Most Importantly, Yourself: Never lose sight of why you are here or your passions. Be yourself unapologetically and take the time to come into who you really are. Now is the time to learn, grow, and blossom into the truest version of yourself.

It has been an incredible journey here at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I have learned so much and grown immensely; this chapter will always hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to the next chapter ahead. Best of luck to all you soon-to-be graduates!

Thanks For Reading,
Annmarie X

Final Thoughts: Graduation

Hey All,

I wanted to take a minute to write more of a personal blog. This Thursday I will officially be graduating with a BFA in Illustration from FIT. My journey has been rewarding in ways I cannot describe. I cannot believe the end of my chapter at FIT is around the corner, and a whole new chapter is about to begin.
I have grown so much as an individual at this school, and I am so grateful for the experience. Though filled with much hard work, without FIT, I would not have been able to bring my craft to a level I did not previously imagine possible. Without FIT, I would not have made amazing friendships and been taught by incredible mentors. Without FIT, I would not have been connected to my internship that I have now been working with for almost two years. Without FIT I would not be the independent, go-getting woman that I am today. I owe a lot to this school, a lot to my dedication, and a lot to my aspirations for the future.
I am excited for what the future has to bring, and the challenges that lie ahead for me. FIT has prepared me for the real world, and I am looking forward to taking on this new journey. This week, as I finish my last two classes of college, I look back with fond memories and important lessons.
Congratulations Graduates! Your hard work has paid off, and your new adventure begins now.

Best,
Annmarie X