W.I.G.: Wildy Impossible Goals

     Earlier this year, I attended the ACHES (Association of Canadian Human Ecology Students) conference. One of the guest speakers, Jessica Doody, made one point that had a major impact on me. It may be a little late to think about New Year's Resolutions, but I believe it is never too late for a Wildly Impossible Goal. 
So here, as I understand it, is how it works:
      -Think of one thing, anything, that you wish to accomplish. (Something "wildly impossible" or improbable).
      -Get yourself a board, sticky notes, a poster board, etc. (Something big enough that you can write on and add to. I personally, like the poster board of sorts.)
      -At the top of the board, write down that wildly impossible goal.
       -Now, underneath that wildly impossible goal, start breaking down the steps it will take for you to achieve it. (Already seems kind of possible, right?)
      -With this check-sheet of small steps, you can tackle that goal one step at a time. Rip off the sticky notes, cross off the steps, or erase the words, as you go. Use whatever helps you feel more accomplished each step of the way.
Small tasks are easy to do, and before you know it, you will have worked your way up to that Wildly Impossible Goal.

The board may look like this one. Sticky notes are useful as they are easy to take off to re-update the board. (This photo can be accessed through the Ann Arbor Chronicle).
Askins, D. (2009). [untitled photograph of board]. Retrieved from:http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/04/30/expanded-ldfa-board-reflects-on-purpose/

      Jessica Doody herself is an entrepreneur and a mother, balancing her own personal life with her professional one. She has created two of her own lines of accessories (one for children and one for women). Unfortunately, I could not find a site or webpage that displays her work. But more importantly than her accomplishments is the underlying principle; she stresses how to use the things you love as a guide to your career. It is not about that well-paying job, knowing that you will be unhappy doing it. And I strongly believe in this: doing what you love is not work. It is unfortunate how few people can really do the things they care about (or even bother trying to attempt to do so).
     With the craziness of school, it can be really hard for me to just sit down and work on the things that really matter to me. There is always another paper, another assignment, or another lab. But these are just excuses. Today, I am going to start creating my own Wildly Impossible Goal board. So here's my W.I.G.: I would like to get an internship with a designer that will allow me to gain some valuable experience in the field of fashion design. To do this, I should:
     -look at some different job postings
     -create an excellent CV (despite my current lack of experience)
     -with my CV, I need to put myself out there and make some contacts
     -narrow down the most relevant information from my resume into my CV
     -improve my basic tailoring and seamstress skills
There we have it, some basic steps toward breaking down my own W.I.G. While a Facebook page is not quite an online portfolio, I may be working my way up to one line this: http://www.krop.com/agamo/ or http://amandamgreen.com/  or http://www.alexandra-anderson.com/. Working toward an online portfolio like those of these design students would also be a huge asset to applying for internships. One step out of my comfort zone, a few more into new and exciting territory. In class, we have also discussed writing a good, effective, and academic CV. It has helped me narrow down which format to use (Chrono-Functional), what information is important to include, and how to write an effective Objective statement.
      Another student in ALES204, has a clear, concise, and professional layout on her blog linking to her online resume (the Facebook page). She may not have used a professional image (of herself in business attire), but I think her volunteer photo says a lot more about her and what she has accomplished. The colours are fun and bright, revealing some personality, but work together to make an overall refreshing impression. Click here to have a look at her blog.

Using Facebook Professionally

     I always understood Facebook as a social networking site. Today, however, I discovered how much more Facebook could be. Not only can I stay updated with news about my own social circle, I can also use Facebook in a business sense. Because I was always worried about online privacy and "the dangers of the internet", I had no idea that making an online resume could be as simple as making a page on Facebook, a site that I am already familiar with. I am moving one step closer to that online portfolio I have always wanted.
Here's my new Facebbook page, Aislinn Ales204 and a little sneak peek photo (this photo is also accessible through my Flickr account, if you click the link below):

Screenshot of Facebook page. Chan, Aislinn (2012). Retrieved from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75265882@N04/6768930589/

Fellow classmate, Carol, also has a new Facebook page. It is well organized and interesting to read, and she also happens to be in the same field of study as myself. You can have a look at it through her blog.
     Using this new resource means that future employers can easily see some of my credentials and previous work experience, without completely invading my Facebook profile and privacy. I appreciate how a Facebook Page is different from a Facebook profile. When I use my Facebook profile, I can stay connected to friends and acquaintances all around the world, and keep them posted on my own new experiences. However, my Facebok profile is private and would not always contain information that future employers would be interested in. Using a Facebook page, I can access a more professional side of this networking site and hopefully more exposure to more people working in the Clothing and Textiles field. Also, the internet is capable of introducing fast connections. Having an online resume, first, can save trees, and second can make the search for professional Human Ecology opportunities more accessible. I can reach out internationally for professional opportunities, without having to be in a different country every I apply.
     In addition, this Facebook page contains more information that a simple resume. It includes my work experience, but also a slightly more personal touch. It could be like meeting me, but not in a face-to-face situation. In Jonathan Gosier's blog, GosDot, he outlines some important reasons for creating an online resume. While a Facebook Page is not exactly an online resume, I believe the principles still apply. I admit, I was not always a fan of going online, but I have discovered some real advantages. So, why not join this new media world?

Introduction

It is almost ironic how difficult introductions can be. You try to encompass who you are, I mean who you really are, in a total of about five seconds. So here I go:

My name is Aislinn Chan. I am a second year university student in the department of Human Ecology. My major is in Clothing and Textiles and my minor is in Design and Product Development. I believe that fashion is a huge part of our identities and how we relate to those around us. I love working with textiles and being creative, so I really look forward to working in the fashion field as an outlet of individual expression.

The Hippie movement was about a plea to end the war in Vietnam, a rebellious movement, reflected in their clothing, as the group wore.

What we wear makes up a huge portion of a first impression. Clothing can tell its own stories. But more than that, interaction takes place at all levels of the clothing industry. Designers need to know what people want, what would be most effective, what is already working, and what is maybe not working. Feedback on this first level is so important for improvement in design (and also, success of the design). Designers themselves do not work alone. Communication between the team is important so that the designer's vision can become a reality, in the most feasible way. Selling a product is all about communication; magazines, television commercials, articles, and advertisements communicate ideas of what the product symbolizes, what it is capable of, even who made it and what was involved in the process. 

Very recently, online shopping has become an important part of this industry. New designers can now put themselves out there and sell products, without having to own their own physical stores. For example, Stella & Dot, a jewelry 'store'. Some of these experiences online can be quite personal, informative, and easily accessible. 
I look forward to what I can learn from ALES204. I hope to improve my ability to communicate using technology.

(A quick reference to two of last year's students: Brianne Cheng and Arisha Seeras, and their blogs. They were super helpful!
http://areekatz.blogspot.com/
http://ales204briannecheng.blogspot.com/)