World@VCU: Angela Vega Vega from Mexico

By Amelia Heymann

World@VCU is a VCU News feature, in partnership with the Global Education Office, that highlights students from around the world who enrich the Virginia Commonwealth University community. Angela Vega Vega is a senior pursuing a bachelor's degree in fashion design and merchandising from the VCU School of the Arts.

What inspired you to study at VCU?

I'm a very go-with-the-flow type of person. I moved to Washington, D.C., for a year and then I moved to Richmond. I was only going to be here for up to a year. My host mother knew I was in fashion. She said "why don't you try to see if there's a certification or something" at VCU. I made an appointment at VCU, I asked, and they said, "No, we don't have that type of thing, but why don't you send us your portfolio and apply?" I wasn't thinking of staying long term, but I talked to my parents and they said, "Why don't you try? If it is meant for you, you'll get in." And then everything started falling into place.

Has there been a surprise during your time studying abroad?

I went to Italy for nine months with a study abroad program, and I think everyone thought it was funny that I was going "abroad from abroad." Richmond is now like a second home. When I was in Italy, I realized the more you feel at home in some other place, the more you become a stranger at home. It was a surprise - I'm now like a bit of a foreigner in my own home country. Yes, I still have my Mexican traditions, and I'm 100% Mexican. But when I realize I've been in the U.S. for five years and I'm 25, that's a fifth of my life. The whole experience of that is a surprise.

Share something about a significant achievement or project.

One of my friends, Benicio, and I got a grant to do research trying to create vegan leather. It's really hard. We learned a lot throughout the process but realized that maybe this is not just a school project - this is probably a long-term thing we want to pursue. We need more knowledge. We were both fashion majors trying to do our best, trying to see if we can actually make vegan leather. Even if it was not the most successful project, I think we were successful for not giving up. I think that's an achievement. We put a pause in it, but we still want to develop it in the future.

What do you like to do in your free time?

A lot of things. One is exercise. The VCU gym gets packed. I took the time to walk around one day and found a court that no one was using. I saw it was for racquetball, and I was like, "What is racquetball?" I started watching YouTube videos on how to play, and l started playing myself. That is something that I learned because I came to VCU. Am I good? No. Do I have fun? Yes.

Give us a glimpse into your future.

Eventually, I want to have my own fashion house. Do I want to differentiate myself and be my own designer? Yes, but that is further down the line. The next step for me is applying for jobs all over. Looking for jobs as an international student is hard because you get a year permit after graduation. I want to apply for jobs around the world but with that permit I am hoping to get a job in New York. I already gave it my all in an American college, why not try to give it my all in one of the most powerful cities in the U.S.? At the end of the day, if it's meant for me it's meant for me, and if it's not, maybe another big, world city is waiting for me around the corner.

Any advice for international students just starting their journeys?

Explore and branch out. You're going to discover yourself and the journey of being abroad and being away from home will take you out of your comfort zone on so many levels. You will get to know yourself better - you will unlock a lot in yourself. Just remember, you're not alone. There is a support system that VCU offers and there are people who are willing to help.

Celebrate yourself often too. Celebrate that you are abroad. You left everything you've known. It was home, and you're trying to make yourself at home in another place. Celebrate that.