Finito. :)

My boards:
http://pinterest.com/fashionsfist/kyla/
http://pinterest.com/fashionsfist/nigel/
http://pinterest.com/fashionsfist/justin/

Decisions, decisions

Picking the people I would focus on for this project was not as difficult as I thought it would be. I immediately thought of my old friend Kyla, a very interesting person. I met her, Justin, and Nigel, on a trip to the USA in 2008. We were all blessed enough to be able to afford the pricey trip, and we met while sitting around and waiting for other students to arrive at Johannesburg International (now OR Tambo) Airport.We were all Gold medalists at ACE's All Africa Student Convention, an annual 4-day competition for Accelerated Christian Education students across the continent, where we competed in sport, performance art, academic science/history projects, music, dance, literary art, etc. Certain categories - including vast Scripture memorisation, which btw is extremely difficult - qualify for the international convention. Mine did, and so did theirs. My medal was for poetry writing, Kyla's was for a dramatic monologue (which I actually got to watch in person at AASC before actually meeting her at ISC), Justin's was for sprinting (dude. is. fast.), and I can't remember what Nigel's was for; it was either archery or the Golden Apple award (a Scripture memorisation and recitation award).

We became a group in a sort of 'buddy system' that was developed on the trip, which included the 6-day convention, a short Eastern US tour, and a 4-day stay in Disney World in Orlando, Florida (and while they toured New York, I visited family in Texas). So when I thought of Kyla for this project, I also thought of Justin and Nigel, as the four of us spent more time together than we did with anyone else on that trip - the entire team was about 84 people. I had the time of my life, and it wouldn't have been the same without them. We ate, laughed, cried, conquered rides, wreaked havoc in airports, lost money, got lost, and got sick - and we did it together.

I guess you could say we were close - I was right outside the bathroom door when Nigel threw up after our 5th turn on the Tower of Terror - and we're supposed to be using people we don't know too well. But how well can you get to know someone on a trip that lasted less than 3 weeks? I figured I didn't know them before 2008, and we've kept in touch since, but rather superficially - 'like' a status here and there, leave a funny birthday message on their wall, bla, bla, bla. So why not try and find out what I don't already know about a group of people who will always be special to me? The headings we picked made that easy. I don't know too much about any of them in terms of romantic history or tastes, background, or travel (well, other than our trip). So there. Perfecto. :)

Kyla

Justin

Nigel

Werking it.

To summarise my life right now, I am now a full time second year fashion design student at CPUT with a standing copy editing obligation to All Things Fashion Africa, a part-time social media and design research assistant for matchmybag.com, a blogger, a sales assistant at Merchants, a worship team member and a youth leader at my church, and soon (hopefully), a campus ambassador for Stylitics.com (more on them later). ‘How am I still standing?’ is a question I ask myself some mornings. Not in a cocky ‘I must be superwoman’ kind of way, because for all that work, I still live a pretty privileged, sheltered, easy life - one I’m very grateful for. I ask it more in terms of why I put myself through all this, and why haven’t I crashed from exhaustion yet?

The answer to the first question is simple: I like to be kept busy. Wanting to have my finger in every pot is simply who I am. I am restless, curious, and a little over-ambitious (working on that), so having all this going on works for me - on paper. Physically going through this ridiculous schedule everyday makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes almost all the time. But am I willing to give any of it up? No. Because I love everything I’m doing (yes, even school :P), and because everything I do is helping me get somewhere.

The answer to the second question has got to be God’s grace. I depend on God for everything, and although some people think that’s a sign of weakness, I believe it takes a strong person to put their faith in God and allow Him to run things, trusting that everything will work out for good because of that faith. So yeah, God’s grace, and good planning gets me through the day. I’m getting so much better at that! Last week is proof. I went to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Cape Town (so awesome!!! more on that later) - almost all the shows, and even a party/show hosted by CSquared at The Reserve, while going to class in the mornings and successfully completing my pattern assignment for the week. A small step, but a step nonetheless.

So yeah, that’s me right now. Werking it (love saying that) and loving it. :D This is the first and last serious post; from now on, it'll just be random stuff that I think relates to this subject. Now I have to go, because I have to get back to work. ha.

'Sup.

I'm Modupe. or Dupsie. Whichever. :)


I am a full time fashion design student at CPUT, a social media intern for matchmybag.com (coming soon), a copy editor for All Things Fashion Africa.com, a blogger at fashion's fist on tumblr, and most recently, a part-time sales assistant at Merchants on Long. I keep kinda busy, so I wasn't exactly excited to have to open another blog for a subject I don't even really enjoy anymore, but I will make the most of it. So welcome to my integral studies blog, where I will be posting assignments, the personal research leading up to them, and other random bits and pieces that seem to fit. Be warned, I have no idea what will transpire on these (digital) pages. Here goes nothing.