Where the passion began...
Everyone has told me that even as a young girl I aspired to become a stylist and makeup artist. I cut my own hair at 4, my first "pretend" real haircut was at 7 (sorry Sam lol, I know you won't ever let me live it down), and by 10 I began styling and cutting my two younger sisters hair. My dad had no clue how to do little girls hair. With him raising 3 girls by himself, I had no choice as the oldest to figure things out. So it seems that the passion within me was instilled and what I was meant to become was chosen before I was born.
Since I was about 10 years old, I can remember always having a passion for learning new styles and creating new looks for others. I loved to transform someone into something they could feel good about. I found myself being that "kitchen beautician" as you will. But, I always put my passion for beauty second to my first love of the law. I truly believed I was meant to be an advocate for the law. In actuality, I was meant to be an advocate...it just wasn't necessarily for the law, it was for others.
I have always loved helping others, in whatever way I could. I wanted to provide justice for those who felt inequality, I wanted to give equality to those who had been wronged, I wanted to do right for those who had been doubted. I wanted to make a stand. Truthfully, I followed a passion for law because I felt that was the best way I could stand for one's equality and serve justice for society. I mentored a judge in middle school, I participated in an elite fellowship for high school students, I employed at my first summer law firm job at 17, and attended my local community college to become a paralegal. I proceeded towards my bachelors in international relations and law. Over the years I have worked for several law firms, experiencing all I could in different areas of law trying to buckle down the one that suited me best. Though, as passionate as I was for law...my second passion, beauty, always seemed to fill the void I overlooked.
In April 2012, I had a surgery performed on my right ear. From which I have 97% hearing loss. For the most part, I can feel vibrations and if I were standing next to the engine of a jet I could hear the sound of the wind whirling. Yet, I probably couldn't make out that it was a jet engine I'm listening to. I found it difficult to recover for several months. The ability to hear is something we take for granted, and yet, there are others in this world that cannot hear not one sound. Thankfully, I am able to hear from my left ear...but it has been an eye-opening experience and a difficult change to get used to.
Since my surgery, I had yet to return to the workforce. Four months went by...so slowly. I felt unrested in my soul...I felt this void more than I had ever felt. But, I began to think amongst the days I sat at home, "Will I ever be able to return to doing what I love? Will I ever be able to follow the career path I set out to do? What if I never hear again? What if I can't go back? What will I do?" And as the days went on and months passed, I began to feel more empty. I began to wonder more about my future. I wanted to get back out in the world, begin doing what I love...helping others. I just didn't know how I was going to do it without being about to have the full capacity to hear, to understand, to listen, as I had before.
Ironically, I began to have more requests for hair services. I guess since I was home, not working, more began to inquire about cuts, color, and styling. So, I began to fill some of my weekends and weeknights with small trips here and there to friends and family to beautify. Of course being a kitchen beautician doesn't mean you have formal training, and my friends and family knew that. I mean, I had never had a hair-cutting course or a hair-coloring course, but I watched countless YouTube videos and researched styles and techniques all the time. The internet can be a beautiful thing...you learn so much. Unfortunately there are bad with the good...so you have to be careful. But, honestly, I found myself researching more and more about hair and beauty. Practicing on myself, my sisters, my friends...different hair styles and techniques and makeup artistry.
I felt as if my passion for the beauty industry had found the green "GO" button after all these years of wandering through the maze of life, and here I am waking up to a new direction in life. At this very moment of realization, my mind examined every aspect of making this career change and at every angle I saw nothing but success. My family and friends have been telling me since I was young that I was destined to be a beautician. To beautify others...to help others realize the beauty that is within themselves. There was no doubt that I loved to do hair, I love to do makeup. It's something that I knew I was decently good at for some time, but always put it on the back burner. I never thought of being a hairdresser or a makeup artist as a profession...just as fun. Now, everything was in a completely different perspective.
The words of my sisters, my family, my friends were swirling around in my head. I never imagine myself in such a different light, until now. At that moment...I made an executive decision. I was going to cosmetology school and I wanted to see this through to graduate and obtain my license to practice. In my family, we don't have many who have actually graduated college or received degrees outside of high school. Blessed be the few that did...and are doing well, I am pleased and proud beyond words to know that they have accomplished such a prestigious honor. Determination and drive will get you so far, then you have to add in motivation, but to make sure you get to the end you have to have support. See I have always had all the key ingredients, drive, motivation, determination and support. However, I never had the right formula of each for some reason. I have obtained enough credit hours in my lifetime of college coursework to have a bachelors...but I also went to school for so long that my financial aid was restricted and I fell short of receiving my degree by roughly 3 semesters. So, to the work force I went. Not sure when I would be able to finish my degree.
You see that girl that took all those classes and never had anything to show for...she's tired of being in the background, standing in the shadows. She's ready to make something of herself she can be proud of, something that she will love to do day in and day out, never tiring of it, never crossing her mind that it is even work at all. She wants to be one of those elite few that has something to show for, that has something her family can stand alongside her and be proud of. I can't say I have regrets for not finishing college before, but I am disappointed in myself for not achieving this sooner. Though, I knew that this was something I could definitely see through...that it was destined to be. So, I went online that day, and requested info from all the local beauty schools.
Within that week, I had scheduled visits with the top 5 schools in Columbus. I can't honestly say that I was impressed with all of the ones I did visit, and there were a couple I didn't even go see because I had found the one that I called my home for the past year. Regency Beauty Institute.
There was something about Regency that I found enticing...invigorating...exceptional. Honestly, looking back on that day in August 2012, I couldn't tell you exactly what it was...but I know that the whole package seemed like a deal I couldn't resist and that I needed to look no further. Where do I sign? When can I start?
Sept 10, 2012, I began my new journey to become a cosmetologist. Many trials and tribulations came my way. Loss of family members, financial issues, car troubles, health problems...you name it! But, I pushed through. I wasn't going to let anything get in my way of finishing this time. Sept 20, 2013, I accomplished my goal and received my diploma in Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. Just a little over a month later, October 29, 2013, I became a licensed cosmetologist.
Here I am...a little over a year later from the start of this endless journey. I feel more like an accomplished stylist now than I ever expected. I have learned so much...and yet still so much to learn. I may have finally left the nest, and sometimes I may have fear of flying solo...but I've got to take the leap, spread my wings and fly. Cliche as it may be, I had had some of the best instructors possible. Some of the best guidance I could have ever asked for. The opportunities from here seem endless. I think taking your boards is probably one of the most scariest parts of the whole ordeal. But, I knew that once that final step was made, I was golden.
I never imagine that I would find new passion within the industry. I've found a new love for competitions and being able to express my creativity. A couple of my instructors really helped me in developing this new love. I have Faith and Christy to thank for that. As well as my campus manager, Carl. I may have not had the motivation I needed to try something so daring, or take such risks if it weren't for them.
Such competitions as 2013 Trend Vision, Sebastian's What's Next Awards, and Junior Style Stars, all seemed like something for the big of the big. But, after I got my feet wet and put in the time, the work, and the effort, I felt more exhilarating than ever before. Placing in the Top 25 in over 500 student stylists for the Junior Style Stars competition made me feel like my work was worth something, like everything I've working for was the right choice. And, I don't plan on stopping there...I'm hoping to compete at the NAHA during PBA week in 2014, and at the America's Beauty Show in Chicago 2014. Look out world...here I come!
Home is where the heart is...
As I search for the new place to call home, I hope that those who continued to cheer me on and support me throughout all these years will find themselves in my chair again.
I know that it doesn't matter how much I can hear...I can see...I can feel...I can touch. I can make a difference.
Everyone asks me, "What's your niche?" "What will be your specialty?" Throughout the process, I would think about what I wanted to be known for. Part of me always knew, but, now I am sure of it. My niche, Well a niche is the heart of every successful business, product or service. If you know what you're doing, then you will stay dedicated to seeing things through. You know the whole "big fish in a little pond" theory? Well, I feel like right now I haven't achieved big fish status just yet. Though, I will continue to aspire others to follow their dreams...and through my work I will show my artistic expressions and I will be that big fish one day.
So, what is my niche? It is being able to provide an exceptional and incomparable life-changing experience to each and every client…using amazing products, the finest techniques, and first-class service.
What is my specialty? Well, to label just one specialty is difficult. Many may choose color, haircutting, makeup. However, I would have to choose timeless transformation. Being able to help one feel improved, the interior and exterior of oneself. Whether I am doing only a cut, or color, skin analysis, makeup...whichever the route may be or combination of all, I want my clients to feel transformed. Giving someone a chance to feel beautiful in all aspects the moment they leave my chair and walk out the door of my salon. I want my clients to feel beautiful every moment of their day and share that feeling with others in hope that how I have touched them will in essence touch another. Making a movement. A change for the good. A change for the better. A timeless transformation. Being an advocate for beauty within.
As I journey through this new chapter in life...I cannot thank the people in my life that have given me the love and support I needed to make this step in the right direction. There are so many to list. But, above all, I thank Allah for his guidance, for the strength to move forward each day, and for his patience. I know that I will be a better mother, a better wife, a better sister, a better daughter, a better friend, niece, cousin, etc...because of everything Allah has given me.
"Always a cut above the rest, giving nothing but the very best"
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