A 2016 Olds High School (OHS) grad says her sister's success in the clothing business has inspired her – but not to go into fashion.
Ashley Reed, 17, wants to become a nurse.
“I think she definitely has been an influence. Not to the point where I want to go into fashion because I don't think I'm quite as creative as she is,” Reed says.
“But I want to go into nursing so I think a big part of how she's influenced me is with helping other people. I can't quite do that in the same way as she does, but I think nursing is also a really great way that you can give back and help other people.”
Reed's older sister, Kayley, also is an OHS alumna (2011). While in high school, she took a dual-credit course in fashion marketing, offered jointly through Olds College.
After she graduated from University of New Brunswick, Kayley and business partner Kyle MacNevin started up Wear Your Label, a line of clothing designed to promote positive views and statements about mental illness. In two years of existence, it has generated worldwide publicity.
“It's amazing what she's doing and crazy how big it has grown,” Ashley says in regard to her sister and her business.
“I have people at school that I don't generally talk to -- or I do -- coming up to me and being like, ‘what your sister is doing is so amazing, like I want her clothes so bad.'
“All this crazy stuff and just seeing her on TV with news people and seeing her on all these international media sites that I read otherwise before she was on them. It's crazy.”
Kayley was back in Olds in late May for her sister's graduation. She was asked if she gave Ashley any advice on what to do with her life.
“No. She basically, I think, has things pretty figured out,” Kayley says.
But she is working on a blog post to provide advice to the class of 2016.
And what is that advice?
“Just things that I wish people would have told me when I was graduating,” Kayley says. “That your friendships change. Like, your friendships will never be the same. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's a bad thing.
“I found as soon as I left for university it was super exciting and there were all these really amazing opportunities and fun things that happen.
“But we don't really often talk about how stressful it is on students – particularly university but also college and other post-grad programs. It can really be trying on a person's mental health.”
Kayley says one main message is “it's OK not to be OK.”
“It's OK to get stressed out, it's OK to feel anxious or depressed or just feeling like you don't know what you're doing with your life. Those are normal things,” she says. “It's normal to feel that way and it's OK to talk about those things.”
"I think a big part of how she's influenced me is with helping other people. I can't quite do that in the same way as she does but I think nursing is also a really great way that you can give back and help other people."ASHLEY REEDOHS CLASS OF 2016
