2. I was raised as a preacher’s daughter my entire life. The beliefs and values that I hold
dear are all based around the faith that myself and my family believe in. Some of these values
include modesty, clean kept appearance, neat clothing, appropriate attire for situation, etc.
When I get dressed in the morning the clothing that I wear reflects the values that I consider
important. My hair is neat, if I wear makeup I make sure I don’t have too much on, the clothing
I wear is modest and not overly revealing. These are values that have served me well
throughout high school and college. They have gained the respect of my peers and teachers and
they have allowed me to go places that not many people get to go. I was able to travel to
Washington D.C. to represent my home town electric cooperative with other kids from my
state, and then I was invited to represent my state and all the cooperatives contained within at
the national convention held in New Orleans. These values, therefore, are what I look for in the
people that I interact with, work for, and otherwise see on a daily basis.
This class has really helped me to make a few changes in the mindset that I have about
people. Looking back over my reflections and assignments, I see a change in the way that I view
things. My core beliefs and values have not changed, however, the way that I perceive other
people and their choices has changed. While I don’t necessarily agree with the people who
dress in ways that I feel is wrong for their personal beliefs, I still respect them enough to accept
them as they are. I will try to reach out to them and get to know them, and maybe show them
what I think is right, but ultimately it is their decision on the way they present themselves and
how they choose to go about living their life. I think that this class has taught me to become
more tolerant in making assumptions about people. Looking at the history of fashion and how
much it has changed, I think it has helped me to understand how quickly fashion changes, and it
3. has helped me to understand that what is in fashion now will not be in fashion several years
from now. Even at this time, fashion is growing and changing as the consumer demands newer
and better things almost as soon as the newest thing hits the runway and the stores.
Through this class I have gained a new appreciation for the diverse and ethnic world we
live in. Every person has a story they are trying to tell those around them. If that story is
communicated properly is something else entirely, however, is totally up to the person it’s
about. The clothing they wear, and the way they wear it can send one message, whereas, the
personality and the life of the person tells a completely different story. Clothing is often used as
an exaggeration of a trait or as something to hide behind. Either way, it is the job of the
interpreter to take what they see and try to get the message the wearer is sending. This class
has helped me to see the many different messages that can be sent across the many different
spectrums of time. As we look back on all of the different fashions, styles, accessories, and the
people that created or wore these past fads, we see something that they left behind for us to
discover. We look back and we see so much of what their time was and who they were as a
people. We see their values, their loves, their hates, and their dreams all in the clothing that
they wear. When we look back at them and read their message it makes me think of what kind
of message are we leaving? When the future generations look back and study us what will they
see? From our sagging pants vs. our business suits, to the northern winters vs. the southern
summer. What will the future America say when they look at the style and fashion that we’ve
created for ourselves?
