Victoria is a Miami-based street culture connoisseur who enrolled in Sneaker Essentials because she wanted to pair her love of fashion with industry knowledge. Here, she discusses her student success and how the Sneaker Essentials online course has influenced her.

Gaining a better understanding of everything that goes into creating a single shoe makes you respect the process so much more from top to bottom.

ON CHOOSING SNEAKER ESSENTIALS —

I wanted to better myself as a person learning about something I love. I was really growing into my sense of style and interest in sneakers when I found this online course. It felt like a great opportunity to learn a little more and better myself. It was important to me to know that the program was backed by an accredited college. The backing of a school like the Fashion Institute of Technology made me feel like it would be thorough enough to be worth the time and money.

ON BEING A YELLOWBRICK STUDENT —

I really loved learning about sneaker design and manufacturing. Gaining a better understanding of everything that goes into creating a single shoe makes you respect the process so much more from top to bottom. The partnership mattered to me also since Complex is a major cultural media outlet that's very relevant to me and many others.

STUDENT SUCCESS IN REAL-LIFE APPLICATION —

It's given me more confidence to pursue paths within the industry that interest me, and a better understanding of how many different paths there are. It can be overwhelming to know how many talented people there are within this field. A course like this makes me feel like I can compete for that job or hold up in that interview. 

ON THE PAST & WHAT'S NEXT —

I did pick up a part-time job at Nike before the pandemic, and I think this gave me the confidence to do so. Prior to the course, I was afraid of how taking a retail job would look after college. I realized that there's no fast track to get to where you want to be. I learned a lot during the time I was there and loved the environment. It was really special to me to get to be around something I enjoy daily. I also have another job as the Marketing Director for Miami's Best Graffiti Guide, the top street art tour company in Wynwood, Miami's Art District. It's engaging and keeps me well connected to street art and culture.

To follow Victoria’s journey beyond Yellowbrick, follow her on Instagram @vickyhoppe.