Hello there, I’m Hayley Shiroff, a soon-to-be graduate from Camden County College. In May 2023, I will graduate with an associate’s degree in communications, but throughout my college schooling, I have also focused on selected studio classes. Outside of that, I currently work part time at a boutique called Marlene’s Dress Shoppe and teach a local sixth- through twelfth-grade color guard.

Though the path to my final ultimate goal was not exactly straight, I was lucky enough to have been able to experience a ton of different options. At the start of high school, I was sure I would be a musical theatre major. So sure, in fact, that I auditioned and was accepted into a musical theatre program at a performing arts academy in our county’s vocational school.

Rather quickly, I realized that maybe I wasn’t as into musical theater as I should have been. At the least, not as into the musical, or historical side. I didn’t mind singing or acting. Meanwhile, I had been diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, and like any teenager, I was not exactly thrilled to have to prick my finger 10 times a day, think about exactly how much food I’m eating, or take a needle multiple times a day. So what does a teen do under such circumstances? Well, if you’re me, you stop taking care of yourself because, out of sight out of mind right? I might have been alive, but my brain and body were not pleased. My grades were awful because I would pass out mid-class and that’s not exactly going to give anyone the best shot at straight A’s.

It was during high school that I discovered the world of color guard: a place where I could be carefree and enjoy life. It was a much needed escape. When I would put on my costume, my gloves, and go out on the floor in front of the audience, I was alive. Being a part of a team that was successful and entertained hundreds (at one point thousands) of audience members, gave me purpose. After high school, I continued doing color guard on a world-class team for four years. I also taught a scholastic color guard for three of those years. This past year, I took a step back from performing when I was given the lead position of director at the school where I was teaching. I have never been more fulfilled in my life.

It was when I started teaching color guard that I realized I love the design side of performing: picking out costumes, flags, colors, music, all things on the design side. Around that time was when I started to take Studio Art classes, and realized where my true passions lie: I have a passion for fashion.

My ultimate career goal is to design performance wear for dancers, color guards, ice skaters, cheer teams, twirlers, gymnasts, and whatever else falls under that branch. I want to make performers feel empowered. That’s all I want.