I

literally couldn’t fall asleep this week. I’ve been fantasizing about my business. I already have a name (it rhymes with paradise), a logo (in my head, just not sure how to put it on paper yet), and I may or may not have been pretending to practice picking up the phone answering, “Hello, Saradise, how can I help you?” Exactly what Saradise is though… is still a question. I know it will have something to do with designing clothing, but I can’t decide what to start with. I’ve got ideas ranging from socks to gowns, but I think I want to start with one thing at a time… the world will have to be patient. I’m leaning toward designing dresses, since modest clothing is not easy to design properly, and I’m a big fan of “one piece and done.” As much as I like fashion, I also like keeping things simple.

Coach wanted to start with the end in mind, I wanted to start with my business. (I mean, people are dressing all wrong! Isn’t that more of an emergency?) We agreed to do a bit of both, to keep balance and focus. The big question was: What kind of schooling should I do that would train me in a design-related field, that I can use for a future job, that will also help me start and run a clothing business?

Turns out, it’s not as complicated as I had originally thought. The choices for design school were between a less expensive and faster course, and a more serious college degree. My parents are willing and happy to help pay for my education, and they feel strongly that getting as much education as possible before jumping into the workplace is a good idea. So, although every part of me does not want to sit through more years of school, I know that they are right. I decide on a happy medium: I’ll enroll in the longer program, if they’ll allow me to get to work on my own business instead of getting a “real” job while I’m in school. They seem to like the idea of me practicing (and having them there to cushion me if I fail), and although my father has been talking about real jobs for a while, I know he can empathize with me wanting to work for myself — he’s the same way! I suspect he’s even a bit proud of my entrepreneurial streak. My mother says it’s okay as long as I realize that as soon as I’m done with college, if my business is not bringing in a real salary, I’ll have to call it quits. Well, I think we have a deal! Real college, real business, real me.

(Excerpted from Teen Pages, Issue 769)