A former graduate of the prestigious Protocol School of Washington informed me of this contest and I found myself both exhilarated and intimidated. Do you know that feeling of wanting something so badly you can taste it? Knowing the odds may be against you but knowing you have to try! The past 3 years this course has sadly been out of my reach. Now, this unexpected opportunity beckons and I have the chance to realize a dream. My name is Frankie Oakes; I am a civilian contractor working as a Protocol Officer at the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation NATO HQ. My career spans 25 years of government service to include 15 years with joint, multinational forces. I am a relatively conservative woman coping with many lifestyle changes in the world of transformation. I don’t twitter or tweet (yet) but I created a face book account so I could enter this contest. I am not a techie but I do know how to text. I actually moved up to a smart phone. In other words, I am not afraid of challenge or change. I don’t back down. It takes guts to survive in the Protocol arena. You must be highly independent yet able to take direction, strong as an oak tree yet able to sway like a willow, capable of entering a room with a confident stride and exit that room with a sense of purpose. You must be thick skinned with a polished appearance. You need an image, a style, a look. You must dress for success, learn to accessorize and become a Protocol “fashionista”. The basic NATO wardrobe is a uniform or business suit. Your number one accessory is the military cover or civilian hat you choose to wear. It is logical to assume my dress code reflects my American culture. At NATO, this is referred to as “wearing my U.S. hat”. But this is where it gets interesting and complicated. At NATO, all member nations (28) and partner nations (22) are considered equal. Therefore, I must hang up my U.S. hat for a NATO hat. The design is unique, the fabric is delicate, a plush and intricate weave of rich and royal cultural hues. No one colour, texture or design may outweigh the other. This hat can be your greatest accessory or your biggest wardrobe malfunction. You need to know how to wear it properly. The Protocol School of Washington is this fashionista’s ultimate Designer Dream Team. They understand every fabric of Protocol and etiquette. I am confident they will help each of us create or own “line of success” on the Protocol and Etiquette runway. Remember that feeling of wanting something so badly you can taste it? The Protocol School of Washington is a recipe book of success. I can taste a dash of excitement, a smattering of confidence and a heaping dose of anticipation. It would be my honour and privilege to attend this school and I am grateful for this extraordinary opportunity.