Senior Calley McMillan’s dreams started to come true last week when she received a letter in the mail announcing her acceptance into the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
“FIT has been my dream since fifth grade,” McMillan said. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”
McMillan applied to the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology with plans to pursue a degree in fashion merchandising.
According to FIT’s website, “Fashion Merchandising and Management at FIT is the largest and oldest degree program of its kind in the country.”
“I applied to a program that lasts for only two years,” McMillan said. “And you can get internships while you’re there.”
The application process, however, was different for this particular institute.
“I had to apply using the State of New York application,” McMillan said. “[Then] I got a password to get to the FIT application.”
McMillan said that she wrote an essay detailing what she as a student could contribute to FIT, and detailed her experience working at a fashion store in downtown Birmingham.
“I talked about working at Tender,” McMillan said. “Doing the website there, helping out with clients, helping out the sales girls, checking out clothes, doing inventory, putting in orders for next year and previous seasons, and getting the clothes ready.”
McMillan was surprised when she got in, and even started crying when she read the letter.
“I definitely didn’t think I was going to get in,” McMillan said. “I was lucky.”
One of McMillan’s best friends, senior Lauren Fasang recently learned how important FIT was to McMillan.
“It was really new to me,” Fasang said. “But when we talked about it, she told me it had been her dream since she was little, and it kind of hit me that she wanted it really bad.”
Fasang said she is so proud of her best friend, and knows that she will do great should she choose to go there.
“She really loves fashion so I know it’s a good fit for her.. get it? Fit?” Fasang joked.
However, McMillan may have to wait a while before she is able to attend the school of her dreams.
The fact that McMillan may not attend the school immediately upon leaving high school does not take away her enthusiasm about being accepted.
“I was so excited,” McMillan said. “It’s been my dream for so long to go there, and I want to go there so bad.”
