So I was just thinking about how people value themselves differently.

I’m in a sewing class and the class is literally Sewing 1 and goes up to about 7 levels. We’re just just now learning to make the most basic rudimentary stuff- the most basic basic version of a skirt, top etc.

But I’ve noticed a number of people in the classes are already calling themselves fashion designers in their IGs and Linkedin’s etc. Can’t yet sketch, cant design pattern making and don’t yet know the basic principles of pattern making, no clue how to drape etc etc.

One of them told me. I can’t sew. But I can design! And pulled out some very basic sketches of faceless forms that honestly required very little skill to create. I absolutely do not consider myself able to draw but I suddenly realize I actually can draw much better even with no instruction than what that person was showing me. But I would never think of myself as a fashion designer at this point.

Like I would never claim that skill. Knowing there are people with far more extensive knowledge from like FIT and Parsons who have spent years doing this. Even very old people in the tailoring industry who have immense practical knowledge that I’d much more respect.

Now let me be clear. Im not hating on these people claiming that title. They can represent themselves however they want.

It was just alarming to me that we on the exact same level of knowledge/ un-knowledge and I would absolutely never think to style myself that way or be on Linkedin claiming to be a full on designer.

Is that delusional when you don’t at all know how to pattern-make or create your own designs? Maybe but the reality is even if I don’t take it all the way maybe I should totally be putting more value on what I do know.

Because delusional or not you do often get farther believing in yourself than not even when the not is weighted by more knowledge and qualification.

I started thinking about people I worked with in my past who didn’t know much or have much education and the level of confidence they had in themselves. I worked with one girl who’d barely been able to get out of highschool, she kept failing basic requirements so much. We were both working an entry job and my view was- I don’t have any experience so ok whatever.

Her view was constantly. I have my degree! I have my degree! I don’t need this. We had people in that job who were in process of getting a Masters degree who didn’t think of themselves of as high value with it as this person who barely managed to pass enough to get out of high school.

Later on I found the degree she had was from like a trade school of sorts with no real entry requirement. Where they don’t actually teach any core math, science etc beyond like one semester of the basics- which would’ve been equivalent to what I as an AP/ IB student was literally taking in 9th or 10th grade. That’s what she was doing in her 1st year of college and she never went beyond that level on those subjects. That was the extent of her education. I as a senior in high school had actually already taken far more advanced math and science and so than she would ever reach would even as a senior in college. But she was regarding that and acting as though that was almost equal to someone who was getting an advanced masters degree in accounting to become a CPA. I barely heard the girl with the masters talking about it at all, though she’d be studying. Where as the least educated one out of all of us was always like- chest out. arms crossed “I dont need this job. I have my degree. My degree! My degree!” Whereas I barely gave the fact that I was working that entry job with a bachelors any thought, because I feel everyone has one and it didn’t mean much. She with a lesser degree felt it validated her as deserving more/ being above the jobs level etc

I don’t hate on it. Like I would never tell her to value herself less. I would just value myself more. It was just an interesting thing that made me realize I could afford to value my self and the experience I did have way higher than I was, if people with far less knowledge and experience were doing so.