I find it hard to believe all the time that has passed as I now enter the second half of my project. I feel acclimated to the work schedule at W, the friends I’ve made, and the role I hold in this community. Since beginning three weeks ago, I have spent time shadowing the Fashion Team, the Accessories department, the Editors’ assistant, and have made significant progress on my magazine, BY GRACE.

Beginning this project, my essential questions mainly accumulated around an attempt to uncover the magazine’s inner workings; however, unintentionally, I have answered many of them solely by spending time in the office. In addition, new questions have emerged as I learned more and continue to engage with the people around me. 

Volume 3 closes next week, and everything we’ve been working towards is beginning to solidify and come to a close. I feel satisfied and accomplished to see my work evolving before me. I’ve been a part of several shoots, from their beginning to end. It’s inspiring to see the way autonomy can aid collaboration. There is transparency and fluidity in the office, and between departments, not everything is black and white. I now have much more respect for the images I know and love, now understanding all the work and planning that has always been behind them. 

After long days at W, I still feel eager to go home and begin working on my own magazine. I hold a few found confidence when organizing and facilitating interviews, photoshoots, and go-sees of my own. The stamina, so it seems, feels abundant; it is more affirming and gratifying than I could have presumed. I genuinely thank the senior project program for providing the opportunity to delve into my interests and pursue them with time and freedom I wouldn’t otherwise have. I am more than pleased with my project so far and my time at W; each day is more exciting than the next, and I feel my interests expanding before me. I am eager to continue this project over the remaining week I have left and look forward to sharing my findings with my peers.