Oliviyah Harry
Don’t Give Up, You Could Be One Step Away From The Finish Line
My own endeavours reminded me that the world is my oyster
I am Oliviyah, 24 years old, of Caribbean heritage, born and raised in London.
I grew up having amazing morals instilled into me by my parents and was raised to walk with my head held high and to own my individuality. This gave me a stable foundation to blossom in this world.
As I began my teenage years, my high confidence began to decrease and my insecurities began to grow, due to the constant pressure to be accepted by my peers. I was so focused on how everyone viewed me, becoming a people pleaser, who slowly forgot who I was and what I wanted out of life. Thankfully, there was always a small part of me that remembered the key values my parents ingrained into me.
From Uncertainty to Creativity
My Journey to a Career in Marketing and Fashion
Once I was ready to leave Sixth Form, I felt lost, I did not know whether I wanted to go to university or go straight into work. I knew I loved creativity and video editing, but did not know where I saw myself career-wise. However, I took the leap and decided to enroll at Brunel University, studying Communications and Media Studies. During my years studying, I took my self-love and growth journey seriously, and it was a big step toward falling in love with myself all over again and owning my confidence. I ended up graduating with a 2:1 after 3 years, and it was an amazing feeling! Acknowledging that I had earned a degree with my own hard work was a proud moment and a reminder that the world is my oyster.
After graduating, I felt confused as to what the next step was. I always had a set stepping stone, whether it was going from Primary school to Secondary to Sixth Form to University…but now I was in the deep sea, having to make decisions that would impact the rest of my life.
For the first couple of months after graduating, I explored many options online, doing career quizzes, taking free courses, and networking. After months of research and brainstorming my interests, I realized I wanted to work in a creative role that involved Fashion, as I had always loved styling outfits. I then landed my first graduate job as a Marketing, PR, and Social Media Assistant for a luxury, streetwear brand! I would create graphic design content, edit videos, and pictures, organize events, write editorials, interact with influencers, work on marketing campaigns, assist with photoshoots, and more! It was such a fun experience and did not even feel like a job at times because of how much I enjoyed it!
Once this job came to an end, I was later employed by a travel-inspired fashion brand as a Creative Marketing & Social Media Executive! I could not believe it, a girl who used to be so confused about what career she wanted to pursue at 18 was now a Marketing Executive at 23! It felt surreal. I experienced a vast number of new things and my confidence continued to grow as I was learning and improving my craft.
Unfortunately, I was made redundant after some time at the company and began to feel quite lost again. I had applied for numerous job roles and as if I was not getting anywhere. Due to this, I started to network every day with other creatives, whether it was in person or on LinkedIn. I did not realize how vital and helpful it was to connect with others, as you never know what opportunities are available. Once my network began to expand, I decided to start a freelance journey! I thought why not? I had marketing experience under my belt and so many new connections. I had applied for numerous job roles and I felt as if I was not getting anywhere as I had never been self-employed in my life. I knew this new chapter would require a tremendous amount of responsibility and hard work. There were moments when I would think, “What if I fail?”. Then I remembered, if you never try, you will never know, and it cannot hurt to attempt something new. So, I threw myself into the freelancing world and began creating marketing and graphic design work for various businesses such as clothing companies, schools, restaurants, and much more. Now, I am self-employed, with an amazing group of clients, and I am my own boss, it feels incredible! Furthermore, I naturally love to help people, so to see my client’s visions coming to life with my services is an added bonus!
This is a reminder to you all that the sky is your limit! You can achieve anything you want with the right mindset, consistency, hard work, commitment, and confidence!
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