Elisabeth Perron is the 2015 Davisville Campus Valedictorian and the Valedictorian of the Fashion Marketing and Merchandizing Diploma program ( now called the Marketing for Fashion and Entertainment Diploma program). In this Q&A Elisabeth talks about how she ended up in the program and landing her dream job within weeks of finishing it.

TFS: Where are you from?

EP: I was born and spent most of my childhood in a small town in Quebec, about two hours northeast of Timmins. My family then moved to Calgary, where I spent all my teen years. I then went to Montreal for university and ended up staying until I moved to Toronto to study at Toronto Film School.

TFS: What brought you to Toronto Film School?

EP: I picked Toronto Film School for a lot of reasons. First off, I liked that it was an accelerated, condensed program, since I already had a degree completed and wanted to get to the end result as fast as possible. I also liked that the instructors are industry professionals, because I felt like their experiences would translate into the learning materials and it would be more hands-on and current, less theoretical or outdated. I also thought it could lead to more networking and opportunities in the industry. Finally I liked that the class sizes were smaller, because that would mean lots of individual attention, better learning, and a more personalized experience overall.

TFS: Why did you choose your program?

EP: I picked Fashion Marketing and Merchandising because I knew I wanted to be in the fashion industry, I just wasn’t sure in which capacity yet. I just knew I didn’t want to design! The program offers classes that touch upon almost every facet of the industry, so it really gave me the exposure that I needed to make an informed decision about what exactly I wanted to do career-wise.

TFS: Why do you think you were chosen as the Valedictorian for your program?

EP: I think I was chosen because I really made the most out of my experience. I not only dedicated myself to my schoolwork and produced some of my best work ever, but I was also very involved in the school. I co-chaired the campus council, organized some events for the students, I got to know a lot of students outside my class and outside my program, and I interacted a lot with the program chair and my instructors. I also had the chance to do many internships, all of which came about through the school or instructors. So overall I think I took advantage of everything the school had to offer and they in turn took notice.

TFS: If you could offer one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would that be?

EP: A year and a half goes by fast, so make the most of it. Ask every question you have, take every opportunity that comes your way, do as many internships as you can, and absorb all the knowledge your instructors are there to offer. Go above and beyond and you’ll see the rewards in the end.

TFS: What is one of the most important things you have learned/experienced at TFS?

EP: The best part of my experience was being surrounded by so much passion. It is so rare nowadays to get to do the job you love, so to be in an environment where everyone is going for what they want, it’s really inspiring and motivating. It made me feel like no ambition was too big to have.

TFS: What keeps you motivated?

EP: I like to set goals for myself and challenge myself to do things that feel just a bit out of my reach. Then I have to work hard and push myself and that’s really when I thrive.

TFS: What are your plans after graduation?

EP: Next week I’ll be starting at Winners as Merchandise Assistant (their version of an assistant buyer). About halfway through the program, I had decided I wanted to direct myself toward buying, and this position for Winners became my “dream job”, the job I hoped I would get after graduation but seemed slightly unattainable. So of course I’m thrilled that I got it!

Click here to find out more about the Toronto Film School and its programs.