JASMINE C. GREEN IS THE DESERVING WINNER OF AFUA FOUNDATION’S OPERATION PROM 2012Studio D’Maxsi and Afua Foundation are proud to announce the winner of this year’s ‘Operation Prom’ Competition – Jasmine C. Green. Jasmine Green, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland wins a custom made prom dress by Studio D’Maxsi with her entry of a compelling and well written essay titled ‘Fashion Limited to No defining Standards’. Her personal story is also an inspiration. She is a 17 year old student of Largo Senior High School with a GPA of 3.4. The ‘Operation Prom’ competition, a foundation program started by STUDIO D’MAXSI’s owner, Afua Sam, was established to encourage as many girls as possible to complete high school with a serious attitude towards academic drive and excellence. Afua Sam is giving back by making the prom night of one very special and brilliant high school senior girl a special night to remember with the gift of a custom made elegant prom dress. Ms Afua Sam of Studio D’Maxsi is very proud of Jasmine Green and believes her entry for OPERATION PROM 2012 was not a coincidence. Through the program, she wants to encourage young people not to be afraid of reaching their goals and not being afraid to stick their foot in the door. She also encourages them to read about achievers and be encouraged by their stories. She says “someone like Jasmine Green is the reason why I started this project. I was so impressed with how she found out about the project. She is the perfect example of someone who will go after what she wants without thinking about how it is going to turn out, knowing that it can only get better. Not only is Jasmine very smart, she is gifted with so many talents and she is 200% going to be successful. I’m very proud of her!!”
Jasmine’s Winning Essay
Fashion Limited to No defining Standards – Jasmine Green
Access granted! Many people never grasp how special life is itself. We take things for granted everyday not realizing everyday is an opportunity to love, care, and acknowledge God. When I was eight years old, my father passed away and motionless thoughts passed through my mind. What was I going to do? I always had my mom and dad by my side! My father couldn’t leave us, No not like this? The endless notations of questionable answers had driven me to be somber. My father and I were never separated for we were like peanut butter and jelly. After my father’s death, my mother began to get very sick and my sister went to college. Since my father passed and my sister was off to pursue a greater education, I had to take care of my mother. I went to the grocery store, paid bills, and took care of the cooking. At that present moment, I had misunderstood what love really was. I didn’t like to handle the “grown up stuff.” I wanted to go outside and run around until I was tired. Still holding on to the memory of my father, I continuously prayed that God would save my mother and wouldn’t take her away.
Needless, to say life had just begun for change was yet to come. Four years later, my mother passed and my mindset as a twelve year old girl had been tremendously revolted. I look back at the moments with my mom and wish I could have done it better. No words in the world could ever explain how much I miss my parents; however, I am still blessed. The obstacles in my life seemed like I wouldn’t see the break of dawn. I would have never thought I would have made it this far. The gratefulness that has taken over my life of appreciating having those appointed people in my life will be shared. I have no doubt in my mind that becoming responsible, outgoing, and creative will inspire people to be grateful also. I will be graduating from high school with a 3.4 grade point average, and I am determined to become the best I can be in all areas of life. Whether it’s developing relationships with people or just giving back.
Limitless dreams cross my mind every day. I look at everything as if there are no limits for I can have anything I put my awe-inspiring mind to with hard work and dedication. This journey allowed me to obtain a different view of the world. I realized even more that there is so much more in the world than this circle of life, that peoples hopes and dreams fail to maintain. Yes, there was plenty of times I wished my mom and dad would come to a cheerleading competitions or a softball game; nevertheless, I cannot dwell on what my past maintains. I can only consider what my future contains. The fact that I had to depend on the people left in my life required me to identify what I really want in this world. Independence! It was then that I realized that I was capable of reaching my goal- earning a college degree and having a career in Business Management while pursuing a minor in Fashion Design or Environmental studies.
When I step foot on that special campus, I will not only bring my caring spirit but I will be able to share my story with my fellow students. I want to inspire those who have their parents to be appreciative and for those who don’t, they have to be the strongest they can be. For the time will come, someone in the future generation will need my story to help them through their obstacles in life. Through my experience, I have learned to be strong in order to survive. I want to use my strengths to support others going through the same things that I went through and educate them in substantial ways. Ultimately, I would like to own my own boutique and start a scholarship foundation for children just like me whose parents have passed away. Fashion design creates an escape mechanism for my heart, which allows me to express simple ideas on pieces of fabric. I will be gladly ready to obtain the fashion that will not limit to defining standards.
Afua Sam thanks all the awesome people who donated their time and talent to support the "Operation Prom" cause. A big, huge shout out and thanks for the contribution and hard work of celebrity hair stylist, CHARLENE BROWN, make-up artist, FELICIA GRAY, and Photography by David McCOY/IMAGES by McCOY LLC
founder and brain behind STUDIO D’MAXSI, one of the fastest growingfashion houses based in the Washington, DC. Unique, innovative, and edgy AFUA SAM of STUDIO D’MAXSI, creates masterpieces for the chic, bold and funky modern woman. Born to a family of six, remarkably selftaught Afua draws her creative artistic inspiration from her late father who was a touring musician. She also attributes her rich Ghanaian culture as one of her many inspirations for the creation of her designs.
STUDIO D’MAXSI ‘s first collection was in 2007 for DC Fashion week; numerous fashion shows followed, especially charity based ones like Fashion Fight Poverty, Steps To The Cure, Fashion Fusion, Fashion For World Peace, Pink Jams, Beyond Words Fashion Show For The ‘Lollipop Kids Foundation,’ Colors Of Sickle Cells, Green & Gorgeous Fashion Show, 12 years running at the Golden Scissors Awards Show, a regular fashion contributor at Council Magazine, just to name a few. Afua is also passionate about giving back and empowering young women through her Afua’s Foundation and Operation Prom. ‘Operation Prom’ is a competition open to academically excellent high school female students. Afua Sam is giving back by making the prom night of one very special high school senior a special night to remember. The goal of the program is to encourage as many girls as possible to complete high school with a serious attitude towards academic drive and excellence. Afua will personally design a prom dress for that very lucky girl.
