I feel that the Apparel, Textiles, & Merchandising program at Central Washington University has certainly prepared me for the future. The resources made available, instruction provided by my professors, and experiences gained through study in the program were necessary for my scholastic and professional development. With the knowledge I now have of the field, I feel that I have a firm grasp on all its crucial aspects. The courses offered in the ATM program were generally interesting and made me more aware of the many different careers paths available to me. The areas of study and potential positions that I have been opened to range from design and garment production to the business aspects of buying and merchandising, and the more hotly discussed global efforts of improved sustainability methods and social compliance issues. The courses I feel were of most importance were Introduction to the Fashion Industry, Digital Presentation Techniques, Socio/Cultural Aspects of Apparel, History of Fashion, Consumer Textiles, and Fashion Line Development. In addition to both the technical skills and knowledge acquired, I was given numerous opportunities to cooperate with my fellow students on projects where collaboration were required. I was able to learn a lot regarding my own personal work style, and the aspects of coordinating group work. I feel confident that upon entering the fashion industry's workforce, the multitude of resources that have been made available to me will allow me to stay in the know regarding industry trends and other advancements that affect it. Finally, I'm confident that my network of peers in the ATM program, industry insiders I've been able to meet and interact with, and my program's professors will give me a leg up as I begin my career in fashion design.