Maddy Ciaraldi
Dear Fresher Me,
You’re probably feeling really stressed about starting university again after dropping out last year, but try to be more positive. You had the determination to come back, and you know that fashion journalism is the right path for you.
Everyone will be so supportive, and despite all the challenges you’ll face in the next couple of years, you will be okay. You’ll discover a more creative side of yourself that you couldn’t express at sixth form, and you’ll find the confidence to host conferences, pitch ideas, and ask questions.
Make the most of writing for Fashion North and take every bit of feedback you can from Liz. Your lecturers are there to help you. By your third year, you’ll be the editor of Fashion North, and it will be such a fun experience!
You’re going to make some amazing friendships and contacts with incredible people from all walks of life. It might be hard at first to have the confidence to talk to people, but by your last year, it will be second nature. You’ll be able to pick up the phone and talk to anyone.
Don’t stress yourself out or doubt yourself — your ideas are good, and you are capable. Learn to give yourself more credit, but also be prepared to juggle university, a part-time job, and moving into your first home. It’s difficult at first, but you can do it, and it’s so worth it!
You have a lot of exciting experiences to look forward to, and before you know it, you’ll be getting ready to graduate (and buying that Coach bag you told yourself you’d get when you do).
Just enjoy the next three years and take everything as an opportunity to learn.
Lots of love,
Future You x
Maia Oluysanya
To my fresher self,
You might be thinking what on earth am I doing moving to this city I’ve never heard of hundreds of miles away from home to study fashion journalism? You might be wondering if this is worth leaving your whole life behind for, and it was hard (especially trying to beat the constant American allegations). However, you wouldn’t believe where we are now, you will build more of a life in the North East than you ever had back in Scotland, through jobs, friendships, and relationships that you will value for life.
You may find the course difficult at first and you are not sure how your modules will be useful to you, but I promise it will all come together and make sense in the end even though at times it felt like a humiliation ritual (modelling in styling was a special kind of torture) it definitely, made you so much more confident.
I promise you even though you will go on to experience some things you never saw coming once you get through all the confusion it’s worth the wait. You will make the most amazing friends, who are just as deranged as you, and you’ll become inseparable and you will realise even more how strong your love for fashion, media, and the creative arts is. Your university experience will shape you into the best version of yourself and for that you’ll be eternally grateful.
Love,
Me.
Lucy Baker
