mycazexperience
Cassandra LaPorte
A lot of skill and talent and a little bit of luck made Cassandra "Cassie" LaPorte's interior design internship a huge success. Luck was on her side when she sent an email to Christine Jones, of CJ Interior Design Studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to see if an internship was available. Luck was on her side when it happened that Jones was selected to design rooms in a home for HGTV's Showhouse Showdown. All the rest was skill.
Cassie, of Hadlyme, Connecticut, is an interior design major at Cazenovia College. She assisted Jones with many projects during her internship in the summer of 2011, one of which was preparing design renderings and assisting with collecting furnishings for the Showhouse Showdown project, filmed in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
The show's concept is for two designers to design and furnish similar houses in a new development, with just four weeks to complete the project. On the April 6, 2012, episode, the house for which Cassie prepared renderings of the design concept was selected as the winner by area residents who toured the homes. (www.hgtv.com/showhouse showdown )
Cassie notes that in the real world, the design and the time it takes to complete depends largely on the client. "Some clients will make up their minds in a matter of a few hours," she says. "Others have a harder time deciding and could keep things going for well over a year. A good designer just needs to know how to listen to what the client wants, and be willing to go back and keep working."
When she began her college search, unlike most prospective students preparing to go to college, Cassie was not at all worried about choosing a major, as her interests are wide and varied. Offered a Presidential Leadership Scholarship from Cazenovia, Cassie accepted and made a visit to the campus. "I was really happy with my decision," she says. "I loved the size of the campus, and felt really at home here on my first visit."
She says, "I initially chose the equine major because I have been riding horses since I was 12, and started learning how to train them when I was 16, so it felt like a good fit. But then I changed my mind."
Just a few months before freshman year started, she decided to follow a passion. She chose interior design because of her love for art, and a desire to have a definite structure to guide her work. She says, "I have a tendency to start something on a whim, and never want to stop. There are very few things I don't enjoy, so I wasn't too worried about where I would end up when I went to college. And the longer I stayed with interior design, the more I loved it."
"The best thing about Caz is the small campus environment," says Cassie. "I'm really glad to have been able to form friendships with so many professors, and it's a really great feeling to know that they want us to do as well as we can. As an art major, being able to work one-on-one is so important that I couldn't imagine a school that didn't work like this."
Cassie's varied interests have been noted by her professors. Maggie Judge, visiting instructor of interior design, says, "It has been a pleasure to watch Cassie grow and mature as a student, as well as become a more thoughtful designer. She has many, many varied interests and a whole list of things that she wants to accomplish!"
Judge is impressed with Cassie's enthusiasm for her projects, her ability to work independently, but to ask questions when she's not sure about something. She says, "Cassie has a delightful and easy-going personality, which I have enjoyed on a personal level, as she has shared her personal and professional goals and successes with me. That, to me, is the beauty of the Cazenovia College experience – small classes that allow the instructors to get to know each student and be able to guide them, according to what their future goals may be."
Cassie notes that Judge is among the instructors who offer her the most encouragement. "She is great about giving guidance, but leaving enough room for students to make their own decisions," says Cassie.
Judge responds, "Especially in the Interior Design Program, the studios allow us to work with students individually. There are so many different types of classes that the students, at some point, find their skills and likes, and focus on those toward a possible career path. Cassie has found out through classes and a very successful internship where her strengths and likes are. She has some great opportunities ahead of her."
Cassie's internship, with CJ Design Studio in Pittsburgh, led to an opportunity to be involved in the design work for HGTV's Showhouse Showdown. Cassie did renderings of the design concepts for the house that won the showdown.
Participation in extracurricular activities is a plus for Cassie, according to Judge. Cassie's varied interests have led to her role as vice president of the College's Interior Design Club. She has also been vice president of the dance club since sophomore year – another of her passions; a member of her residence hall council; the tennis club and the craft club. She has been a regular member of "Up ‘til Dawn,' a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital; and has been on the Dean's List every semester since the spring of 2009.
Cassie has not settled on a definite career plan but her internship duties and the television show gave her a broad overview of what running a small business is like. "I have one job offer that I am considering as a result of my internship," she says. "I would eventually like to go into healthcare design. I love having to work within strict guidelines, while still making spaces fun and inviting, so I would be happy doing anything in the commercial field."
Because of her internship experience, she says, "My dream job would be to own my own business in the art and design field, but I want to start out in a large company. I might get a master's degree in architecture. I don't have my heart set on one particular thing, but look forward to where this field takes me."
Cassie, of Hadlyme, Connecticut, is an interior design major at Cazenovia College. She assisted Jones with many projects during her internship in the summer of 2011, one of which was preparing design renderings and assisting with collecting furnishings for the Showhouse Showdown project, filmed in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
The show's concept is for two designers to design and furnish similar houses in a new development, with just four weeks to complete the project. On the April 6, 2012, episode, the house for which Cassie prepared renderings of the design concept was selected as the winner by area residents who toured the homes. (www.hgtv.com/showhouse showdown )
Cassie notes that in the real world, the design and the time it takes to complete depends largely on the client. "Some clients will make up their minds in a matter of a few hours," she says. "Others have a harder time deciding and could keep things going for well over a year. A good designer just needs to know how to listen to what the client wants, and be willing to go back and keep working."
When she began her college search, unlike most prospective students preparing to go to college, Cassie was not at all worried about choosing a major, as her interests are wide and varied. Offered a Presidential Leadership Scholarship from Cazenovia, Cassie accepted and made a visit to the campus. "I was really happy with my decision," she says. "I loved the size of the campus, and felt really at home here on my first visit."
She says, "I initially chose the equine major because I have been riding horses since I was 12, and started learning how to train them when I was 16, so it felt like a good fit. But then I changed my mind."
Just a few months before freshman year started, she decided to follow a passion. She chose interior design because of her love for art, and a desire to have a definite structure to guide her work. She says, "I have a tendency to start something on a whim, and never want to stop. There are very few things I don't enjoy, so I wasn't too worried about where I would end up when I went to college. And the longer I stayed with interior design, the more I loved it."
"The best thing about Caz is the small campus environment," says Cassie. "I'm really glad to have been able to form friendships with so many professors, and it's a really great feeling to know that they want us to do as well as we can. As an art major, being able to work one-on-one is so important that I couldn't imagine a school that didn't work like this."
Cassie's varied interests have been noted by her professors. Maggie Judge, visiting instructor of interior design, says, "It has been a pleasure to watch Cassie grow and mature as a student, as well as become a more thoughtful designer. She has many, many varied interests and a whole list of things that she wants to accomplish!"
Judge is impressed with Cassie's enthusiasm for her projects, her ability to work independently, but to ask questions when she's not sure about something. She says, "Cassie has a delightful and easy-going personality, which I have enjoyed on a personal level, as she has shared her personal and professional goals and successes with me. That, to me, is the beauty of the Cazenovia College experience – small classes that allow the instructors to get to know each student and be able to guide them, according to what their future goals may be."
Cassie notes that Judge is among the instructors who offer her the most encouragement. "She is great about giving guidance, but leaving enough room for students to make their own decisions," says Cassie.
Judge responds, "Especially in the Interior Design Program, the studios allow us to work with students individually. There are so many different types of classes that the students, at some point, find their skills and likes, and focus on those toward a possible career path. Cassie has found out through classes and a very successful internship where her strengths and likes are. She has some great opportunities ahead of her."
Cassie's internship, with CJ Design Studio in Pittsburgh, led to an opportunity to be involved in the design work for HGTV's Showhouse Showdown. Cassie did renderings of the design concepts for the house that won the showdown.
Participation in extracurricular activities is a plus for Cassie, according to Judge. Cassie's varied interests have led to her role as vice president of the College's Interior Design Club. She has also been vice president of the dance club since sophomore year – another of her passions; a member of her residence hall council; the tennis club and the craft club. She has been a regular member of "Up ‘til Dawn,' a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital; and has been on the Dean's List every semester since the spring of 2009.
Cassie has not settled on a definite career plan but her internship duties and the television show gave her a broad overview of what running a small business is like. "I have one job offer that I am considering as a result of my internship," she says. "I would eventually like to go into healthcare design. I love having to work within strict guidelines, while still making spaces fun and inviting, so I would be happy doing anything in the commercial field."
Because of her internship experience, she says, "My dream job would be to own my own business in the art and design field, but I want to start out in a large company. I might get a master's degree in architecture. I don't have my heart set on one particular thing, but look forward to where this field takes me."
Interior Design major prepares renderings for winning HGTV show, Showcase Showdown.
Interior Design
Hadlyme, CT
Interior Design
Hadlyme, CT
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