“What are you going to do with your life?”

​

This was a question hammered into my mind throughout my entire life. Grandparents, teachers, parents, all joining in a chorus of questions that sounded more like a broken record to me. I never knew how to answer it; it seemed like I said something different each time. “I’m going to make music”, “I’m going to design clothes”, “I’m going to be a graphic designer”. As I got older, my answers aged with me, but even then, I just could not let go of my childhood dreams.

​

When I refused to decide on one career, I figured I would pick them all. I will make music and clothes, design promotions, and market a brand to an audience. When I was younger, the idea was too blurry for me to share with anyone. I asked myself how I would even profit from that, and if I even have the skills to create something that much bigger than me.

​

I was fortunate enough to spend the best week of the summer before my junior year across the world in Japan. I said my goodbyes to my family and packed my bags to stay with another one, living in a small town called Oiso. I had never been off on my own for a period that extended that length and admittedly, I was terrified. Despite my fears, this trip was an experience that shaped me, and changed my vision for my future. The whole culture was charming and inspiring. Everyone knew one another and cared for me as if I was born right there in the same small town as them. With the vast mountain range to my left and Oiso’s black beaches to my right, I remembered my vision for making a brand and the name “High Tide” came to me.

​

I went through my junior year with that idea in the back of my mind. As time went on, I witnessed it come together. My goal developed into a much more clear statement. I wanted to make a brand that spans multiple mediums. Clothing, music production, videos, and even more tied into one name, High Tide. I wanted to do something no one else had done before.

​

With my entire journey ahead of me, I knew I had to find a place to start. I set out on making a website to display what my brand has to offer. I showed the website off to my friends and my parents. My dad, having worked at a local college for over 20 years, was quick to suggest programs at multiple different schools that focus on entrepreneurship. Programs like these can give me the skills I need to tie it all together.

​

With a degree in sight, I buckled down on my schoolwork and continued to draft pieces to go into High Tides first collection. I continued working on music production, cinematography and photography. A few of my friends even offered to contribute their skills where needed. Throughout all of this, I never lost my inspiration or my vision for the future. High Tide is my brand, my passion and my goal.