Ten years ago, Hope moved to New York City for an unpaid fashion internship, the kind of leap that’s thrilling and terrifying all at once for any young female finding their way. She needed somewhere affordable to land, and that’s where Webster came in.
What started as a few months of budget-friendly housing became the foundation for a career she’s still building today. We caught up with Hope to hear about her time at Webster and where fashion has taken her since.
Q: This was your first time living in NYC — what year(s) were you at Webster, and what brought you here?
Hope: I lived at the Webster from May 2016 through December 2016
Q: Webster helped kickstart your career in fashion — can you walk us through how that happened?
Hope: Having affordable housing allowed me to work as an unpaid intern for my first three months in the city. Once I was hired full time for the designer I interned with, the Webster offered affordable rent based on my income. Allowing me to continue living in the city while working and giving me the flexibility to save for my first apartment.
Q: How would you describe Webster to someone who’s never lived in community housing — company, dorm, or something else entirely?
Hope: I always describe the Webster as an all girl adult dorm lol it felt very reminiscent of my freshman year of college but without having a roommate, and considering I was only 22 and desperate to break into the NYC fashion industry, it was worth it for me!
Q: What’s a specific way Webster gave you the confidence or independence to go after what you wanted in your career?
Hope: Not having to worry about paying and extreme rent fee each month gave me so much peace of mind. Additionally, having on site dining was a huge weight off my shoulders. That cut down costs for me significantly and was an easy solution to an otherwise stressful thing to add to your list of to do’s each week. These definitely freed up space in my head to focus on myself and my goals. This also allowed my entry into adulthood post college graduation to feel a little less daunting and more achievable.
Q: Where are you now in fashion, and how do you see Webster as part of the path that got you there?
Hope: 10 years since moving into the Webster I’m now living in San Francisco, CA, I have a beautiful Victorian apartment in an adorable neighborhood with my dog and cat and I’m now working in Luxury Retail Management and pursuing my Master of Arts in Costume Design. I definitely think that without the Webster I wouldn’t have been able to take the first leap to move to NYC and work as an intern following graduating undergrad.
Q: One piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to move to NYC?
Hope: If I could tell my 22-year-old self anything before she moved to NYC it would be to document everything. Take more videos, capture every moment good, bad or indifferent and to write about it. I wish I had journaled more in my first months in NYC to go back and reflect on how far I’ve come.
2nd piece of advice is to stop caring about what people think of you, especially in NYC. Nobody cares what you’re doing so just do what you want and don’t ask for permission.
Ten years and a cross-country move later, Hope’s story is proof that big career leaps often start with a little financial breathing room. That’s the Webster difference. Here’s to Hope, and to every young woman writing her own version of this story right now.
Ready to write your own story? Learn more about living at Webster and apply today!
