We have so many stellar Options alumni, and in our new series, we wanted to shine a light on a few of our past clients who have gone on to do great things both near and far. This month, we chatted with Ciara about what she’s been up to since she graduated and her advice for current post-secondary students.
What’s your name?
Ciara Di Salle
Where and what did you study?
Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London) – BA Fashion Design
How did you choose this institution and program?
I decided on pursuing fashion design during my final year at high school, at which point I wanted to find a high-performing school abroad, so that I could learn from the best as well as experience living in a new place. My main motivation is that the program was ranked highly worldwide, and I loved visiting the UK prior to moving there.
What would you tell current post-secondary students about finding a path & would your high school self be surprised with where you ended up?
I think high school me would be surprised! I thought I wanted to go into fine art for the bulk of my time at high school, so I put a lot of work into portfolio and diploma programs to improve my applications for the USA. I only came around to designing clothes when a teacher at an Early College Program pointed out that a lot of my sculptural work was centered around the body and wearability. All in all, going into design was a bit of a leap of faith, but I’m glad I did it. My advice for students trying to find a path would be to keep an open mind, and not set rigid expectations for what you should be doing after graduation. Every field likely has more breadth for career options than you expect. Always aim to keep learning!
What are you doing now?
I’m a designer for Herschel Supply Company. I currently work on apparel and headwear, as well as special projects.
What at Options Solutions helped you the most?
No one ever told me what I wanted to do wasn’t possible or wasn’t practical when I came to Options. I came in with a really clear intention of pursuing an art or design degree, and I only ever felt support for that plan, whereas secondary school counsellors often pushed me to find backup plans, or reconsider rather than pursuing a field that they didn’t see as employable. I worked with Melinda, and she helped me build out the portfolio and applications necessary to get accepted into several great schools, so that by the time I graduated I had options to choose from. On a practical level – I never would have made it through the SAT for my US applications without the crash course!
A fun fact about you?
I have two crazy cats, and I am a huge Star Wars nerd.
Where can our readers find you?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaradisalle/
