FIDM International Students

The Balancing Act

    As a fifth quarter fashion design student, I now have more of an understanding of this whirlwind in the world of fashion education. The saying, “practice makes perfect” is an epitome of the balancing act we must portray in our daily lives as students.
    The first quarter I had at FIDM, I would probably consider it to be the hardest time of my life. I arrived at college in a city that I had only sporadically visited; a city in which I barely knew anyone. While leaving the comforts of home to pursue my dreams, I struggled with basics like food shopping and even sometimes laundry. I had never realized the somewhat complexity of taking care of oneself completely as an adult until my arrival at FIDM. In a way I had to grow up and mature quickly while being only eighteen. The balance of school, the use of a credit card, transportation, sharing the apartment with insane roommates, food shopping, keeping the apartment clean, cooking, homework, and making friends was nearly impossible that first quarter. I also had to deal with being homesick across the entire country from my home and family (who I probably spoke to about ten times a day). But time went on, and I built a routine within a couple of weeks. I grew up rapidly, made new friends, decorated my room and even made study group sessions with my new friends.
    This quarter, my fifth quarter, I have somewhat mastered my routine. I now room with my best friends, who I consider my sisters, am on the verge of getting an internship, and I also have a great study/homework routine. The whole “taking care of myself/ staying alive” balancing act that I failed at in my first quarter is now very easy for me. I know that my experience as a first quarter international student sounds dreadful, but I wouldn’t change this journey for anything. It made me the person that I am today; stronger, more outgoing, responsible, and a wanting for more in life. I even developed a better relationship with my parents and brother. I also developed an inexplicable adoration for my major. Fashion design is the very essence of what I want in life.

Meet Fashion Design Major Juliana Ponce de Leon from Canada

Name: Juliana Ponce de Leon

Country of Origin: Canada

Other college if applicable: Palazzo Spinelli Instituto Per L'Arte e il Restauro (Florence, Italy)
 
Major: Fashion Design
 
Campus: Los Angeles
 
Tell us a little about yourself:  I was actually born in Bogota, Colombia but moved to Vancouver, Canada when I was only five years old. As I was introduced to a whole new world I made lifelong friends, learned two more languages, became a regular snowboarder, and developed my love of the arts. At age fifteen my family and I moved to Florida where the environment was the polar opposite. Apart from having to start an entire new life, studying at a new high school, making new friends, and adapting to the weather, I was completely cut off from the Canadian life that included mountain hiking, ketchup chips and snowboarding.  I then concentrated on my love of the arts. I applied for a summer program at Palzzo Spinelli Instituto Per L'Atre e il Restauro in Florence, Italy in 2006. I was accepted and moved to Europe for the summer. There, my eyes were opened to the other great possibilities this world had to offer. Seeing things with one’s own eyes are very different than seeing things through the television or through pictures. Somehow all those years of studying and surveying European art and architecture, became suddenly so alive. And that is when I fell in love with fashion and the inexplicable freedom it gives an individual towards expressing themselves to the world. You could probably call me an old soul.
 
How did you find out about FIDM? I actually found out about FIDM through Google. I was initially going to go to Syracuse University in New York for law. But I had an epiphany a couple of months before and decided to take a chance and do something that I loved. Syracuse was safe and LA was an unknown future.
 
What made you decide to apply to FIDM? Apart from my advisor Jim Bontemp's advice, I thought back at the time when I was studying art in Florence. We went to a fashion show in Milan for the weekend where i fell in love with the energy.
 
How did you choose your major? I had always loved making things with my hands, especially things that were affiliated with a creative base. I had picked Product Development because I didn’t have a crisp idea of what I eventually wanted to do. But in the midst of the application process, I switched majors.
 
What was the hardest thing about moving to L.A.? The hardest thing about moving was leaving my family and the secure environment they gave me. Also, I didn’t know anyone.
 
What has been the best thing about moving to L.A.? Apart from actually beginning my life and career, I found my three best friends. We became a family and I acquired sisters that I never had.
 
Have you made friends at FIDM? The weird thing is that I started with no friends, then had a huge group, then ended up with a perfect small group. We are all so different yet we perfectly blend together. My three best friends and I moved out of student housing, and now live in a very homey apartment building that has an amazing Mediterranean vibe.
 
What are your short term career goals? I want to get an internship at a fashion house while I am still here at FIDM. Hopefully I get to expand my network and learn more of the trade. I also am hoping to get accepted into the third year program here at FIDM. After the third year, I am moving to London or Paris to continue my studies at Instituto Marangoni.
 
What is your ultimate dream after graduating from FIDM? My ultimate dream is to move to Paris and work for Chanel Couture. Then in my later years I want to start my own line.
 
What inspires you? My biggest inspiration is elegance. I want to bring back beauty and detail to people’s life. Chanel’s classic simplicity and Calvin Klein’s perfect tailoring are the biggest factors in my creations. As I am obsessed with history, I take bits and pieces from many of my favourite eras when I am designing garments. Let the sophisticated and feminine woman shine again!
 
What's one tip you would give an international student thinking about applying to FIDM? Never let your past dictate your future. If you really set your mind to it you can overcome anything. I have moved so many times in my life and every new place is an adventure that will not only open up your view of the world, but strengthen you for life. Don’t regret rejecting the blessings that life gives you. FIDM has helped me in deciding what I want for my future. And now I know exactly what I want and am doing everything to get it.