By Emma Burbage, Spark Class of 2006

 

I had just finished 7th grade at North Star Academy in Redwood City when I enrolled in Spark last summer. Overall, there are three main aspects of Spark that I enjoyed most. The first is that I got to know new people and make friends. The second is the time I spent in my individual apprenticeship. And the third is the workshops the Program enabled us to participate in.

My apprenticeship was in fashion design and costuming. With my partner, Marissa, and mentor, Cindy, I learned about specific areas of the subject, from fashion history to how to use a garment bag to how to take a person’s measurements. I also learned about the many different careers there are to pursue in the fashion industry. We went to several stores and asked employees questions, and to costume storage rooms where we saw extensive collections of costumes for theatrical productions. My mentor also had lots of antique clothing from various time periods, with pieces ranging from dresses to coats to accessories. Cindy even let me keep an old beaded purse I loved and a beautiful, white dress typical of the Edwardian Age, my favorite period in fashion. My apprenticeship was enjoyable and rewarding.

I got to learn about other professions through the workshops that Spark offered. Various people came in to tell us about their careers, how they got started, and generally what they did for a living. We were visited by the owners of a sushi company, biologists, a movie critic, a magician, and many more. This aspect of the program appealed to me, because we got to see what different kinds of jobs are out there, even if they aren’t ones we would be particularly interested in doing. You might end up liking something you hear about during the workshops, so it helps keep your mind and options open.
 

Emma's Spark Story