These days, being a student is expensive. Especially for those studying in a creative field. Fashion design is an on-going expense... fabrics, pattern paper, sewing machine services, and the list goes on.

For this reason, I have a part-time job, like a lot of my fellow students. I've always known it was important to gain experience in the industry you intend on going into and although this kind of experience is great, I now believe that experience gained not neccessarily in your exact field, can also be so invaluable.

I do contract work for a specialist online marketing company, and I've come to realise that the skills I've developed from this can be used in collaboration with my Fashion Design degree to achieve career goals.

The importance of being open and aware to work experience opportunities [not necessarily within your own field] is really beneficial in the long run, and I appreciate the beauty in diversifying my skill set.

A book I'm currently reading by Seth Godin, Small is the New Big,  touches on this idea somewhat and has made me think more about and embrace the concept of diversifying one's skill set... and it's something I'd encourage others to start investigating!