CHS Grad and New York Design Student Shares Experiences

As a senior in the 2023-2024 school year, Conant High School senior Alexander Waterman worked with teachers and counselors to fill his final semesters with as many fashion design classes as he could take, and on the side created custom pieces for classmates. It paid off: He was accepted to the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City – featured on the Bravo show “Project Runway” -- and started in fall 2024. 

He returned this month to speak with D211 students about his experiences.  

“The last time I was on the stage, I was doing a prom fashion show,” he said, noting being back in Conant’s theater was intense.  “Now, to be lecturing and sharing my experiences here is insane.  I’m very grateful.  This has been amazing.” 

During the hour-long presentation, Waterman shared stories from his time working at various events and shows, examples and inspirations in his portfolio, and significant pointers and advice he learned during his time at Conant and beyond. 

He also discussed his classes, revealing math plays a critical role. 

“A lot of people often ask if I still have to take [general education] courses since I am in design school.  I do,” he told the students.  “I am taking intro to fiction and philosophy, a lot of language classes, and math.  There is a lot of math.  When you are making clothing, it is all math.  You are basically doing algebra, geometry, and calculus all the time.” 

Waterman stressed the importance of time management skills, which he learned during his time at CHS.  Family and Consumer Sciences department chair Angela Drenth said she was happy that the students got to hear Waterman reinforce that point. 

“It’s so fun to have Alexander back,” she said. “I am so happy he reiterated some of the things we always tell students about the workload of the fashion field.” 

Students had the opportunity to speak with him individually after the presentation. 

“It was wonderful, at the end, to see the students that were inspired,” he said.  “I had questions that were about things like hair and nails, and how that relates in the industry. I think it’s wonderful how they are already thinking about they can branch out and that they have that initiative.” 

Palatine High School junior Marlene Pasillas talked with Waterman about hair styling: She’d heard hairdressers were needed in fashion, but didn’t know for sure. 

  “I wanted to know what his experiences were,” she said. “Now I know it is incredibly competitive.  It makes me want to take on that challenge and succeed.” 

Waterman said being back at Conant reminded him of all the opportunities and experiences that helped get him to where he is today. 

“Being back just made me remember that, even though I am moving on with my life, there was this chapter that means so much for me,” he said.  “This place really set me up for all the goodness.” 

He added that if the students only took one point away from his presentation, it is that they should find a true passion and then do all they can to pursue it. 

“Find an obsession and stay obsessed with it,” he said.  “That is how I felt for fashion.  If you find a career you are willing to bend over backwards for, pursue it.”