The first time I visited Scripps was when I was flown out for Scholars Weekend February of my senior year of high school. Worrying about what to pack for both a warmer climate and a faculty interview, I consulted my friend who had been to Scholars Weekend the year before. “It’s California,” she assured me, “they’re a lot more casual than here.” Coming from the northeast, I had been raised believing that professional people had to dress pretty conservatively. I also just didn’t have a lot of experience having to dress professionally – college interviews were my first time really doing that, as I’m sure they were for many others. But coming to college in California has definitely raised my awareness of the fact that professional clothing can vary, not just from field to field, but also regionally.

When it comes to my personal choice in what to wear, I am the kind of person who will wear shorts or pants most of the time simply because I can’t be bothered with being composed enough to wear a skirt or dress in public. I’d rather wear something that is comfortable and functional than something that runs the risk of being blown up by an errant breeze (or subway grate à la Marilyn Monroe). There’s also something to be said for having a pocket to carry your phone and a belt loop for your keys. So when I start thinking about myself in a future workplace, the first thing that comes into my mind is the need for me to be comfortable. But what does comfortable work wear really mean? Would I love to be able to wear my everyday clothes (within reason) to my place of work? Heck yes. But I imagine I’m not the only person who wishes this, and the reality of the work world means that most of us cannot do that.

While there remains the possibility that I will some day be able to go to work in a clean-looking pair of jeans and my favorite Doctor Who tee, in the interim I have to be somewhat realistic. I don’t actually have a dislike of professional clothing, I’ve realized, but more of a discomfort with its associations. Work clothing is what adults wear, and I still don’t feel like an adult most of the time. There aren’t any particular items – heels, suits, etc. – that I truly dislike, as long as I can find something that I like the look and fit of. I am no longer quite so terrified at the thought of having to look nice five days out of the week, although to be sure most of my college-student-wardrobe would not really be suitable. Two and a half years later I actually have no memory of what I wore to my interview with Professor Boucquey, but it must have been all right, because I got in, and I got the scholarship. So when the day comes when I graduate from Scripps and begin my career adventures, I like to think that I will be able to adapt to whatever my profession requires of me – but will probably never give up hope of that jeans and t-shirt dream job.