Enterprise is pleased to share this essay written by high school senior Elizabeth Ouyang for a college application. The prompt given to her was, “Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.”

As a “Fixer-Upper” and “Mr. Kate” enthusiast, I fell in awe with the thrilling experience of transforming a home. Inspired by the artistic and creative aspects of interior design, I decided to intern at Jonathan Rachman Design.

Walking into my first day of work with high-heels, I envisioned myself working leisurely and elegantly. Instead, my first assignment was to measure all the rooms of a 5,000 square foot house and to sketch the layout. As my feet became sore after walking around the whole day, I realized that interior design was not the picture-perfect depiction that I saw on television.

With every project I worked on and every customer I interacted with, my new outlook on interior design deepened. When I was tasked to flip through stacks of books to find bench designs, I learned that finding inspiration required weeks of research and planning. When I was tasked to carry antiques around a client’s home and experiment with decor, I learned that it took repetitive comparisons and considerations to fine-tune every detail in a room. When I was tasked to help translate for foreign clients and understand their aesthetics, I learned that a designer must be versatile and balance professional opinions and clients’ desires. Every day I came with curiosity and passion and left with interests and enjoyment.

Through my internship, I realized building a good design took lots of behind-the-scenes efforts. I also learned how to think creatively, communicate effectively, and view little details and big pictures simultaneously.

Elizabeth Ouyang
Jonathan Rachman Design intern