PART II: One Way Ticket, The Highs and Lows of Landing My Dream Job in New York City
In January, shortly after my 23rd birthday, I had $3500 in savings - $2500 from a successful modeling shoot with Wrangler and $1000 earned from nannying. I figured that was enough to hold me over. I asked my Uncle Keith, who lived in Oyster Bay, NY, if he’d be willing to let me stay with him and Uncle Joe-Joe, until I could secure a job. Without hesitation, he agreed. So, I booked a one-way ticket, packed three suitcases, and set off to the Big Apple with no idea what was to come. As soon as I landed in JFK, here came reality, hitting me straight in the face. The $80 Uber ride to my uncle’s place from the airport was just the first of many challenges that lay ahead.
Despite all the unknown, I was SO excited to finally be living the quintessential New York experience of sleeping on someone’s couch/spare room, and taking ruthless modes of transportation just to make an interview. As soon as I arrived, I immediately notified IMG of my relocation, they were so happy to hear that I finally made the move. We scheduled an in-person interview to meet with some of the manager’s I met with over Zoom. This interview gave them a chance to fully access my personality, work ethic, and experience. Before submitting my resume, I sought input from a few individuals who advised me to remove my work as a “waitress” from my employment history. Although I worked in the food and bev industry for eight years, I decided to trust my gut and left the experience on my resume. It just seemed ridiculous for me to erase that many years of my life off my resume. That decision turned out to be a significant highlight during the interview, because one critical job requirement was customer service, and my hospitality experience reinforced my knowledge of it. ALWAYS trust your gut. Had I removed that experience from my resume, I can’t confidentially say that I’d achieve the same outcome. That interview taught me that sometimes, taking an unconventional approach can lead to unexpected results.
Following that interview, I received feedback from HR expressing interest in scheduling another round of interviews. This time, the meeting would be with a manager whose focus was on celebrity talent. Given my keen interest in working with celebrities, I made sure to prepare extensively and had numerous questions prepared. Upon learning about the impressive roster of talent the manager worked with, I knew that this was an opportunity I simply could not pass up. The key takeaway from that interview was to always be true to yourself. It can be extremely daunting going into interviews without knowing what the hiring team is looking for. What helped throughout the process was to constantly remind myself of my own value and staying authentic.
As my professional life began to take off, my personal life started to unravel. Shortly after my move, my Uncle Keith began experiencing severe health problems. He received a call from his doctor informing him of his diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and the urgent need to see a specialist in Manhattan. My cousin Morgan, who lived a short distance away, came to Oyster Bay to help manage the situation with her dad. We collectively put a plan in place and parted ways for the weekend.
Although I had my uncles’ company, I was so incredibly lonely in a town where I knew no one and had no vehicle, especially given that it was the dead of winter. In an effort to get some much-needed friend time, I decided to take the train into the city. Well, I guess the universe had different plans for me, because no less than a day later, my cousin called in a panic, explaining that her father's condition had worsened, and he needed to go to the hospital immediately.
I rushed back to Oyster Bay to meet him and Joe-Joe at the hospital, where the emergency room was chaotic, with an overwhelming number of patients and not enough staff to manage the situation. My uncle was in such pain that he was literally screaming out in agony, lying on a bed in the hallway. I repeatedly asked the staff for assistance getting him to the restroom, but my pleas went unheeded. After several hours of waiting, they finally moved him into a room and allowed me to leave for the night.
Morgan made it back in town the following morning and we went to the hospital together. As we arrived at the hospital the next morning, we had no idea what to anticipate. The reality of the situation hit us as soon as we entered the ICU. My uncle was completely unresponsive and had been moved to critical care. He was barely coherent and not making any sense at all. Our hearts dropped when we received the devastating news that his gallbladder, liver, and kidneys were failing. They cautioned us that his condition was unpredictable and that the rest of his immediate family needed to fly up ASAP.
The following days were a blur of emotions. We were given so many different answers from so many different doctors, that our brains could barely process one set of news, before receiving another. The only glimmer of hope was that he had a chance of living if he could get a liver transplant at NYU. However, he needed to be stable before the transfer. It was a never-ending waiting game as we were repeatedly told that he would be transferred in 24 hours, only for it to be postponed yet again. At one point, we thought he was finally ready for transport, but his temperature spiked, causing yet another delay. It was a painful and excruciating time for all of us.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his condition stabilized, and he was transferred to NYU. Meanwhile, in the midst of all the chaos, I received news from IMG's HR requesting me to attend a final interview in a few days. It felt surreal to even think about a job interview amidst such a difficult time.
The next few days at NYU were a waiting game for my uncles health. The doctors needed to get the infection under control before they could perform a liver transplant, but if he didn’t receive a new liver soon, he wouldn’t make it. The situation was extremely delicate, and we were all on edge, anxiously waiting for any news.
After some deliberation, the doctors decided on a plan to stop the sedation and take out my uncle’s breathing tube to see how he would do. We hoped he would be responsive and show signs of improvement, but he wasn’t waking up from the sedation as expected. The doctors requested a meeting with my family to discuss a new plan.
The meeting was set for the day of my final interview. A few hours before my interview, I received a text from my cousin that her dad was bleeding out, and it didn’t look good. I was already beyond nervous and stressed about the interview, but now my thoughts were also consumed with concern for my uncle's status. I thought about postponing the interview for a different day but my family urged me to go and come straight to the hospital afterward, as their dad would have wanted me to kick ass for him.
I put on my Ann Taylor jumpsuit and set off for the interview. Side note, if you’ve ever worked in fashion, you can understand that a 6pm interview time during New York Fashion Week is completely normal. I for one, having no previous experience in the fashion industry thought it was beyond strange, but boy did I learn.
Even with all the emotional turmoil, I managed to nail the interview, and left on a high note. But, as soon as I quickly checked my phone, my cousin had sent me a text saying that my uncle’s condition had worsened and he would be taken off the ventilator once I got there, so we could all say our goodbyes. It was such a sudden and stark contrast, going from feeling elated after the interview to feeling completely heartbroken walking to the hospital. The next few hours were a rollercoaster of highs and lows, as we waited for my uncle to eventually pass away.
Okay, so here’s the thing. That same interview outfit? Yeah, it became the outfit I wore to my uncle’s funeral a week later. Life is weird like that, you know? But what’s even weirder is that I received news that I got the job shortly after the funeral. And, you guessed it, I wore that same damn jumpsuit on my first day of work too. Thank goodness for New York winters and being able to get away with outfit repeating. It became a running joke in my family and often referred to as the “interview and funeral” jumpsuit anytime I ever wore it again. I mean.. at least we could find some humor in it.
Looking back, I realized the significance of that jumpsuit in my life. It represented a turning point, a moment when I decided to take a chance and pursue my dreams in the fashion industry. It wasn’t an easy journey, but I persevered and learned so much along the way. Now, as I reflect on my experiences, I am reminded of the importance of sharing our unfiltered stories, the ones that showcase both the challenges and the triumphs. As I mentioned in the beginning of my journey, I’ve been guilty of only sharing the polished version of my story. But, in reality, it’s the messy and unpredictable moments that shape us the most. I truly hope that by sharing my unfiltered journey, I can inspire and motivate others to pursue their dreams, even in the face of adversity. And as for that jumpsuit, I finally gave it away last year, feeling grateful for the role it played in my journey, but ready to move forward to new adventures.
