Heritage graduate, Olga Abbott, overcame many obstacles on her way to becoming an interior designer and the person that she is today. She recently shared her story, which inspired us and will inspire you too! Read on for her full story.
Childhood in Siberia
I was born in Siberia in the small town of Anzhero – Sudzhensk. I grew up in a large, caring family and was the youngest of fourteen children.
As a child I loved to help people and I always dreamed of becoming a teacher or doctor. Becoming an Interior Designer was never even a thought until later in my life. I had never even heard of such an occupation when I lived in Anzhero-Sudzhensk; I honestly don’t think it even existed as a career in Russia at that time.
When I look back however, I realize that I always had a passion for Interior Design. I remember playing with paper dolls, which included a house and furniture that I would cut out and use to design different spaces. My mom told me that I would always comment on the interiors of homes and make suggestions on how to make them better. I’ve always had an appreciation for well-built, beautiful homes.
Move to America
The first time I heard about Interior Design was when our family moved to the United States. I knew right away that this was the career I wanted to pursue. Since I didn’t know English, I feared that it would be impossible for me to get an education in Interior Design.
In order to learn English, I knew I needed to go back to school, but a disheartening school experience in Russia discouraged me. I didn’t believe that I would be able to learn a second language because of the verbal and physical abusive I received from my elementary school teacher. She would intentionally lower my grades because I believed in God, and told me I was ignorant and not worthy of anything.
The memories of my teacher humiliating me in front of class, hitting my head on the blackboard, calling me “stupid” and making negative comments about the fact that I believe in God haunted me for years. I would stand in front of class and cry, not understanding why she doesn’t like me or why it was a bad thing to believe in God. I believed her when she said that I’m stupid and not worthy of anything, and it has taken decades for me to realize how wrong she was.
Career at Dennis Uniform
After moving to the United States, I began my career at Dennis Uniform, the nation’s leading school uniform provider. I have now been at Dennis Uniform for 21 years. I started as an order puller in the warehouse and a few months later was asked to take over a department. I didn’t think I was capable of doing this job but reluctantly agreed. I couldn’t speak English and had no computer skills. Even though I wasn’t confident in myself, if I commit to something I will not quit. Approximately one year later, I was promoted to the lead of the Mail Order Department. Over time I taught myself how to use a computer and slowly learned to understand English.
I would say to myself,
“there is no way back, only forward.”
My Manager and co-workers saw my abilities and believed in me. Because of my knowledge of the warehouse, products, and internal system reports, I was promoted to the Warehouse Supervisor and soon after the Warehouse Manager. My most recent promotion was to a Production Planning Manager.
Finding Heritage
Although I am grateful for my career at Dennis Uniform, I knew it was not what I wanted to do forever. Guided by my passion for Interior Design, I searched for schools that offered an education in Interior Design and found Heritage. I wasn’t quite ready to start my education due to finances, raising a family, and so on, but I would visit the Heritage website and dream that someday I’d be able to go there. I would read success stories almost every morning before I started my workday and think, “they did it, and I can too!”. The success stories were a source of constant inspiration.
If it wasn’t for my husband and our son, I would still only be looking at the website, reading success stories, and dreaming that I could be there. My husband and I met when I was a shy, insecure person. He saw something special in me and encouraged me to come out of my shell. After all, he was the manager that hired me at Dennis Uniform! He was also the one who helped me to believe in myself and proved to me that my teacher in Russia was completely wrong.
After almost a decade, I finally reached the point where I was able to enroll at Heritage School of Interior Design. I have now completed the Master Certification Program, and I am excited to start working in the field. Being an Interior Designer is my dream profession and allows me to to help people, share my knowledge, and do what I love. I’m looking forward to starting my own successful design business in the near future.
Future Goals
I have a special place in my heart for the elderly and children. My vision for the future is to serve the community and to donate my design skills for a greater cause by designing living spaces for homeless families with children and creating healing bedrooms for children with serious medical conditions.
With the help and support of my family and friends, I was able to overcome the difficult trials I faced. From moving to a different country, leaving some family and friends behind, learning a second language and battling through the sense of inadequacy that my elementary school teacher instilled in me, I was still able to achieve my dream career. I have been able to replace the negative memories from elementary school with the positive memories, praise and support I’ve received at Heritage.
One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve ever received was just one-word “Believe.” It took me years to follow this advice.
Verb (used without object), be·lieved,be·liev·ing.
To have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.
Thank you Heritage, I am looking forward to what’s next for me!