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Lai Ip/2

SACRIFICES

By: Lai Yin Ip

It was a sunny day in LA when Vanessa arrived at her new home. Shopping districts around her neighborhood, celebrities casually having brunch, and tourists taking pictures in the most known spots, but there she was, with her suitcase looking around with a heart full of dreams.

“I can’t believe I’m here,” she whispered staring at her new apartment where her new life was about to begin. However, something strange happened after a couple of days of living in an unusual home, she felt different, she was extremely nervous, her heart was racing, and she was having chest pain, something that she couldn’t control herself from. It was a feeling she’s never felt before; she was in shock.

After the bizarre encounter Vanessa had, she started to accommodate herself and was running errands, getting to know the city, and of course applying to fashion houses to get herself in the business as a stylist. Vanessa’s resume was outstanding, back in her home country she got to work at Adriana Santacruz’s Atelier and with Silvia Tcherassi.

Luckily a couple of weeks later, she got a call from Prada

“You are a perfect candidate and we would like to have you onboard,” they said over the phone.

“I’m delighted to accept your job offer,” Vanessa replied.

This was something new for her, out of her comfort zone, but she was more than willing to try because she believed in herself and she had the courage to move to another country to do what she loved the most.

Four months went by, where she got to style celebrities like Joey King, Vanessa Morgan, and Kerry Washington. She couldn’t believe the life she was living. She made new friends, was getting along with her coworkers, and was very social among colleagues. Although it was amazing, she was having anxiety attacks whenever she was alone, she couldn’t understand why it was happening to her.

“Culture shock: the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes,” she stated after doing research.

In her mind, it all made sense, the language difference, culture barriers, and change of scenario. The sensation of feeling distraught like something was out of place, like she didn’t belong.

It was a battle in her mind deciding whether or not to tell her family back in Bogota because she didn’t want to distress them. Nonetheless finally, she made the video call

“I want to go home,” Vanessa commented.

“I feel anxious, I miss you guys, and I can’t seem to adjust myself around here, it’s just different,” she clarified

Her parents all worried comforted her

“You are doing your best, you know more than you think you do, and you have worked hard to get to where you are,” her mom replied

“I don’t think is enough,” Vanessa answered

“Changes are hard at the beginning, these are opportunities you will not have here in Colombia, celebrities love your sense of style and they now know your name, that is a great step forward for your career. I understand your feelings because that’s what I experienced when I first got here, but I know you are strong and have the resilience to follow your dreams” her dad added

That was the first time she heard her father said something like that, she felt touched and encouraged to move forward.

A few weeks after that call, she received an email from Beyoncé’s manager asking her to be her Personal Stylist through her World Tour

“I can’t believe this is happening,” burst Vanessa.