Grey: In Content
I met Grey in one of my online classes. During the global pandemic when social life is extremely limited, I am grateful to encounter such fine human being through the screen of a laptop.
The dusk had started slowly taking over the city, by the time we entered our Zoom breakout room for the discussion of a school project. The morandi blue sky was hastening its last shine of sunlight into my apartment, and through the window blinds, maneuvering the graceful shades of the upcoming nightfall on the beige walls. I greeted my partner Greyson Thierjung, who was in a room as dark as mine but full of vibrancy and enchantment.
Grey greeted me in a polite and joyous manner, being born and raised in the sunny Orange County has clearly given her the confidence, brightness and open mind Southern Californian girls typically possess. As second year Merchandising and Marketing major students, we all have an important decision to make---- are we continuing our education or are we ready for the industry? To Grey, the answer is to proceed to the Bachelor program and continue her education at FIDM, then become a fashion buyer for luxury boutiques or department stores.
Speaking of which, I couldn't help but ask Grey what she thinks about the massive downfall of luxury department stores and what impact it will have on our careers. She said “It is sad but I’m also excited, it really is an opportunity for brands to grow and show their true colors.” Grey is just so fundamentally optimistic and positive that when you’re “around” her, your anxiety and stress are eased and mood elevated . “Everyone has bad days and good days, what matters is the ones you focus on,” she told me.
Another thing I saw in Grey that I rarely see nowadays in the city is her sense of family. I smiled along with her when she talked about her parents, “I admire my parents the most because they worked hard to give me and my brother this amazing life.” Being influenced by her loving parents, she described her perfect future happiness as living in California with the ones she loves and a dog. Grey told me that she can’t imagine living without a dog, I burst out envious laughter, such life sounds just heavenly to the ones who have never had a dog before.
Grey holds the love of her family towards everything, even the devastating pandemic we are going through right now. She said she feels anxious because of all these uncertainties but at least she can spend more time with her loved ones. “My most memorable trip was going to Spain with my family. We rented an apartment right on the water. It was so beautiful and so good to spend so much time with my family.” Remembering Grey mentioned that travel is her biggest extravagance, I wonder, is it really the fresh breeze of new destinations that fascinates her? Or is it the harmony of escape and love that has her heart.
One’s dream doesn’t have to be a bedazzling epic, Grey’s happiness is like a lily garden by the ocean, nourishes from the pacific moisture, and blooms in spring warmth and love. Grey is truly a soul of realness and genuinity, talking to her is like a walk through a hallway where showcases the fineries of humanity. After our conversation, I couldn’t help but dial that number I don’t call that often anymore, to remind my family that I miss and love them.
