BREAK THE MOLD! BY MICA DONOHOE

When I first meet new people, especially during my college experience, I have felt that I am frequently stereotyped by the way I dress and my positive, happy-go-lucky attitude towards life. College is a time when students are trying to figure out their identities and futures, in an environment with a myriad of social pressures. In my first year, I was often frustrated by comments from those in disbelief of my determinedness. In my second year, however, I was able to turn those irritations into a creative business endeavor: my own perfume company. People are often surprised to learn that I started my own company, but my creative outlets, like my business, have been driven by my determination to prove my worth. By starting my company, I have found my niche and provided myself with a creative outlet to express myself. Procuring scents, package design, and branding have given me the opportunity to break a mold that I in the past felt stuck in and expand my horizons in a way I would have never had the courage to do in years past.