The Vault always stood out to me as a fashion-forward club focused on art and clothing. Don't get me wrong, it had all of those things. But I soon realized it was so much deeper than that.
With no background in the creative industry, I was hesitant to join. I wasn’t sure how a club focused on fashion would help me reach my goals as a journalism major. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. While I always appreciated the beauty of clothes and design, I also thought that clubs were solely meant to deepen my knowledge of my academic areas of study.
Luckily, after taking a leap of faith, I found a club that embraces the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration, making it accessible for students from all academic backgrounds.
Like many other students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, when faced with more than 1,000 clubs to choose from, I wanted to stay in my comfort zone — giving major and career-oriented clubs first pick. But if my experience working with The Vault has taught me anything, exploring the unexpected can lead to fantastic results.
One thing that attracted me to The Vault was its open acceptance of students from all backgrounds and interests, connecting fashion with diverse sectors like business, journalism, STEM and more. The Vault offers more than just a creative outlet — it’s also about forging connections. It doesn’t wait for students to seek out the fashion industry, it brings the industry directly to them. While I was confident that there was more to The Vault than what meets the eye, I was incredibly impressed with how deeply it valued all kinds of soft skills, from creative thinking to a strong work ethic.
Whether you dream of launching your clothing line, designing a luxurious campaign or dabbling in the fashion industry, The Vault makes those dreams seem within reach. Without my experience with this club, I never would have seen the possibilities a non-fashion-focused major could have in my dream field of work.
Regardless of your major, The Vault creates a space for everyone to succeed, exemplified by the end-of-semester fashion show featuring over 50 models in handmade, custom outfits. It wasn’t just a showcase of talent, it was a celebration of the creativity all students have within them regardless of their major. Witnessing my peers' hard work and dedication to this event helped me realize how this student organization differed from the rest. Seeing the club sell out nearly 200 seats to showcase its first semester accomplishments inspired me to think differently about how special interdisciplinary collaboration is.
To me, The Vault is more than just any old club on campus, it’s a community of visionaries brought together by a shared love of fashion. But, without taking a risk, and stepping outside of my comfort zone, I wouldn’t have found a community that has not only opened doors I never thought possible but changed the way I think about my future. Working on The Vault’s Journalism Committee has blended my passion for fashion and writing, proving that many fields can intersect with creative studies. My experience with The Vault has redefined what it means to be a member of a club — it’s a place where ideas are celebrated, networks grow, and relationships are formed.
By embracing the unconventional, you are sure to experience loads of personal growth and learn more about yourself than ever before. Take the first step by getting out of your comfort zone and exploring the incredible opportunities at the Student Organization Fair next week — who knows what community or passion you might discover.
Safa Razvi is a freshman studying journalism and economics. Do you agree that stepping out of your comfort zone is key to having meaningful involvement with a student organization? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
