Most of us will go through at least one career change. Sometimes career change is by choice- prompted by the discovery of a new dream or the need for bigger challenges. Often, especially during times of economic upheaval , career changes are made for practical reasons. Ms. Belony , Miami High’s personal fashion guru, made a big career change that today she does not regret.

Ms. Belony has admired fashion all her life. She grew up visualizing her mother’s great sewing technique making fine garments for the family through her sewing machine. “I’m a visual learner,” she said.

Besides teaching fashion and sewing, Ms. Belony manufactures beautiful gowns and kimonos   at home for Renaissance festivals that usually take place between mid-October and December. These gowns are similar to the garments women wore approximately 400 years ago between the years 1600 and 1699. She also makes gowns to wear at theme parties that she hosts for her family and friends. Ms. Belony attends fashion shows to make sure she is up to date with the latest fashions and trends. Some fashion shows she attended are Funkshion fashion week, Mercedes Benz fashion week, and Ocean Drive fashion week .

She didn’t have a career goal growing up until she attended Miami Dade College for two years and found out that she enjoyed drawing, which led her into commercial design. Ms. Belony   graduated from North Miami High School, class of ’86, and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1993 from Florida International University (FIU).

She worked with At- Risks Youth Center for Haitian Students in Miami, where she later on became a leader from 1996-2000. She did workshops and seminars on health protection from STD’S and taught children about the risks of sexually transmitted behaviors.

After achieving her bachelors degree in Psychology, she worked in case management where she had to interact with sick clients from many different backgrounds and cultures. That specific field was heart -breaking because she unfortunately learned that death is a part of life.

After six years in case management ,she decided to switch careers because the tragic effects were getting to her. “I was working with people with HIV. I had clients that passed away so it was hard seeing   patients, and then next week they’re gone,” she said.

After those six years, a good friend of hers that worked with Miami Dade Public Schools informed her of an opportunity to become a Family and Consumer Science educator. Ms. Belony then attended an interview in September 2001 and, with her great sewing techniques, she became a sewing teacher later that year in Jan Mann Opportunity School.

Outside of fashion and teaching she is very active. Ms. Belony loves to travel around the globe and has visited many places including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin, Arizona, and St. Martin. She loves to socialize with others and meet new people with different backgrounds as well as trying new, interesting foods.

She actively exercises five days a week and attends physical competitions. Most of all, she loves spending quality time with her family especially on special occasions such as holidays.

Born in Haiti, Ms. Belony said she was raised by a loving , Christian family that instilled good values in their children’s lives. She has six siblings whom she loves very much and always has time for even though she is a busy young woman.

Her biggest goal is to own a vintage shop with her sister. They both love collecting vintage items and they would love to run it in Miami because of our warm, humid weather.