Love Means Never Having to Say Your Sorry

I hope you believe that because instead of apologizing for missing a post yesterday I am just going to give you two posts today! As some of you know, I am looking to get into FIT's 1 Year accessory program. Preparing essays, gathering information and working on my portfolio has been consuming my life pretty thoroughly for the last few weeks. I have just about completed the process and will hopefully be hearing from them soon. Any how, my first post is the essay I wrote for my application. I hope you enjoy reading it, get something from it, and most importantly, I hope you Think it is good enough to get me in!


What makes you a perfect candidate for FIT?
Why are you interested in the major you are applying to?

“The Perfect Pair”

I think it is fair to say that life is full of twists and turns and unexpected surprises.
It was a surprise to me that I chose to go to Savannah College of Art and Design, a school
my mother practically dragged me to visit and hundreds of miles farther than I had ever
imagined I would go from my home. I was surprised that I felt so comfortable in the
Production Design department, where I was able to combine my love of story telling and
fashion. Furthermore, I was surprised to find that through the various jobs I have worked
on and through the people I have met in those jobs and elsewhere, I have realized what I
deeply love is to create and to make accessories.
I love how the special items (shoes, bags, gloves, hats, etc…) really function as
the defining elements of a person’s style and character. I love that different accessories
can change the tone of an outfit from casual, to professional to a night on the town. In my
work in the costume world and in my experience as a fashion devotee, I find they are the
things that can bring the singular greatest joy to a person. I am seeking to gain the
necessary technical skills, business knowledge, industry connections and material
sourcing information that when I add my personal design sensibilities, I will have a solid
foundation for success. I deeply feel that FIT can provide all of those things and is the
best place for me.
I could continue with why FIT would be a good fit for me, however, I, too, am a
good fit for FIT. I moved to New York City in September of 2008, to pursue working in
the costume field. As a self starter, who is hardworking and motivated to achieving my
goals, I have been able to work in a variety of jobs from film to theater to assistant styling
commercials during a time of a recession across the nation which I am a proud of.
Through these experiences I have gained many useful skills that will serve me well as a
FIT student; Skills such as being a fast learner, task oriented and able to work in a fast
pace environment, organizational skills, as well as budgeting abilities as well as my
eagerness to contribute. I always maintain a professional, polite and positive attitude
towards my work, especially in stressful situations which I am well aware exists in the
fashion industry.
Working in regional summer theater, I have learned the value of working with
small budgets under tight deadlines which I believe can make or break the fashion
business. I also feel that because I am older (than the typical high school graduate) and
have had a successful college experience under my belt, I know that I can handle the
challenging curriculum set out by FIT. I can use the sewing skills and other construction
techniques I have learned in my work. I don’t view going back to school as a step
backward or starting over. I see it as an opportunity to continue to grow as a costume
Robin L. Jendryaszek 2 071-74-9269
designer as well as having the potential of opening doors for me into the fashion world,
that otherwise might remain unavailable to me. FIT offers so many varied opportunities
to its students; I know if I’m accepted, I will take full advantage of them. I am certain as
a student I can make a contribution that FIT and I, too, can be proud of.
It was a surprise to me that upon discovering and taking an introductory
shoemaking class at Hunter College, I felt a genuine creative renewal in the design and
construction process. I have found the handful of classes I have taken at FIT as a
noncredit student extremely enjoyable and beneficial. I always get excited by the vibrant
student community, the vast activities and opportunities at the school, and the creativity
buzzing in the air. This may be a nontraditional reference but, in Sister Act 2: Back in the
Habit, Whoopi Goldberg’s character helps a wayward student by giving this advice: If
when she wakes up all she can think about is singing, then she should be a singer. When I
wake up, all I can think about is making accessories. I want to do all in my power to
make that desire a reality and FIT is where I can make it happen.