Juliana Vitanza
Associate of Arts in Interior Design '23
What inspired you to pursue your degree and major?
I thought I wanted to work in the medical field because I like helping people, but after being in the industry for a while I realized I wasn’t utilizing my best talent: creativity. I looked at different creative industries and interior design seems to help people while requiring creativity, so I decided to start down this path.
What is your career goal?
I hope to either do healthcare interior design or acoustic design.
What is your experience as a student mother at Wade?
My experience has been late nights, a lot of learning, multitasking, and a balancing act. I have a lot of hats to wear but Wade made it easier for me with late-night classes and remote learning. The administration was extremely helpful with scheduling my classes around my busy schedule and working with me on any issues I had.
What does it mean to you to be a student mother?
Being a student and a mom is pretty hard. It took me a while to figure out how to balance school and taking care of a baby and my home. I think I am still figuring it out but I have gotten to a point where I am not stressed out all of the time. It also means sacrifice. Sometimes I have to sacrifice bonding time with my daughter in order to meet school deadlines or make it to class. I have to sacrifice sleep to get everything I need to get done in a day, and sometimes I have to sacrifice my sanity to make sure all my priorities are taken care of. It is a lot of work but rewarding.
What has been your favorite class so far? Why?
I have had so many great classes but I would have to say AutoCAD 2 class was my favorite because I really enjoyed learning Revit and how to take my design ideas and turn them into a visual project.
What advice would you give to other student mothers?
Organizing your time efficiently is the key to being a successful student mother.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I would not have been successful in my education endeavors if I did not have support. My husband has been the greatest in helping me get my schoolwork done. My parents and mother-in-law have also been vital in my ability to go to school by watching my daughter when I need them to. Having a community to help you and support makes a world of a difference in your success.
Where can we find you online?
Personal Design Instagram: @babyj14992019