While I am 28 years old, this is a huge moment for me.
I wanted to go to college so bad, but the circumstances were never right, until.
I graduated from high school in 2014 in Mexico City. I went to a school named Colegio Rossland (now closed due to COVID-19).
2014 – High School graduation party with my best friend Isaac
Another High School Graduation Event
After graduating from high school, I submitted applications to a few colleges I was interested in. The one I was most excited about, and really the only one I cared about, was the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature – La Esmeralda National School of Painting, Sculpture and Drawing of the INBA.
There are three stages to the application. In each stage, you perform a series of tests to get in :
Theoretical Evaluation: Written, in-person exam on general knowledge in visual arts and art history.
Portfolio Submission: Present previous works, an explanatory text, and a personal statement.
Practical Exercise: Create a piece, document the process in a logbook, and write a presentation text.
I had paid for the application, passed the first stage, and was ready to continue on to the second stage.
At this point, I am aware that I am moving soon to the US with my dad, without my mom. I just hoped I would show my mom how excited I was to continue my education in Mexico, and somehow it would mean I could stay.
It didn’t matter, lol
I was discouraged from continuing with the application. My mom said, “You are moving no matter what, might as well find a college that is closer to you with a less arduous application, because you are leaving soon.” She said that I might be able to stay for a semester or two.
I was heartbroken, but I did, I found a whatever college and applied for a whatever degree, I did one semester in Hospitality and Tourism, (they didn’t have anything art related) I hated it.
(First day of class at UniMex)
Ok, now I started to like it, I had a boyfriend, new friends, parties, and overall a cool community.
I found out I was definitely moving, immigration paperwork had been submitted, and I had a flight scheduled for February 26th, 2015
February 25th, 2015, was my last night in Mexico City.
2015 was easily the WORST year of my life. I was stuck in PA with my dad, whom I haven’t seen since I was 11 or 12, without access to education because a green card was more important (?)
I spent most of my evenings alone in a room. I started doing yoga from YouTube videos.
Immigration application was accepted, after several trips from PA to NY for interviews with immigration, I finally received my Green Card.
I moved to Florida almost immediately after I received the physical card.
Oh well, I got a job.
My first job. I worked at Chipotle. These were some of my favorite coworkers and close friends.
I got fired lol
I dated a Toxic boy who was also dating and flirting with several other coworkers.
We all got fired lol.
While working at Chipotle, I enrolled at HCC, Hillsborough Community College.
First day of class at HCC, I bought that Wu-Tang t-shirt from Target. I got so many compliments that day lol I had no idea what Wu-Tang was lol. I just thought it was a cool logo lmao
HCC was located 30 minutes from “home”; I didn’t have a car or a license. Uber prices were crazy; I was spending close to $300 a week. I dropped out.
Started working at Journeys, I was a Co-Manager. I loved this job. I got free shoes.
Then I worked at Amscot Financial as a bank teller. I fucking hated this job so fucking much. But the money was decent, and my coworkers were the sweetest, most supportive people I could have ever asked for.
3 years later continued dating the same shitty dude… I know, wtf Hailey!!
Anyways, he did awful things, I wanted OUT. I applied to an airline.
I GOT THE JOB!
In 2019, I moved from TPA to DCA to CVG to SDF and finally stayed in New Albany. I was based in Cincinnati, so I had to drive to CVG and back every 4 days :s I slept in my car at the airport a couple of times.
I really liked this job, but the pay was not great.
COVID happened, and I got scared. I quit my job. I found myself with a lot of free time, and I kept seeing on the news people talking about online school. I thought that maybe I could finally go back to school while the world was paused.
I heard there was a great university nearby, IUS, so I applied for a BA in Graphic Design.
During my first semester, I took the 3D foundations class. In that class, I worked with clay for the first time ever. I asked my professor if I could take home my leftover clay, and she said yes.
I was obsessed with the medium. Not long after this day in the photo, I took my first ceramics class, you kinda know the rest.
Fell in love with clay! I switched my major to two majors, one in graphic design and one in ceramics.
May 5th, 2025, I graduated with two BFA’s from Indiana University Southeast.
It’s crazy to think about all the hurdles I had to jump over to reach my goal.
I guess I know now that all of that is part of life.
But I was always so mad and sad that it had to be that way for me.
Felling #Grateful #blessed
My 2016 Moodboard
| HPereyra 
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