I chose to pursue cosmetology because I enjoy helping people look and feel beautiful. Cosmetology is like an art. Cosmetologists listen to the client's needs and then design haircuts or come up with a skin care plan. Few things compare to making someone feel great about themselves.
I chose to train at Gene Juarez Academy because they have a non-traditional education format. Instead of learning inside classrooms, we have a service floor where we practice with real clients and provide services for discounted rates. The hours of hands-on experience that students gain while serving clients count toward the state license requirements.
The admissions process was very simple for me. I visited the academy and spoke with a representative about the program and cosmetology in general. The academy accepted me into the program on the same day.
I advise students to be themselves in the interview. They should share their reasons for pursuing cosmetology and why they want to attend that particular school.
The format and educational focus at Gene Juarez set it apart from other cosmetology programs. The program takes 9 to 12 months to complete and provides students with the knowledge and work hours needed to apply for the state board licensing. The program is divided into several levels, each of which has a test that students must pass to advance. Although the majority of the work is practical and hands-on, we spend the first 3 months learning about the different concepts that cosmetology is based on.
Students learn hair coloring, hair design and hair cutting methodology but not general education subjects such as English, math and philosophy. As a result, students can focus on their craft without having to take unrelated coursework. Typically, students spend around 40 hours a week in the classroom and an additional 30 minutes in the evenings finishing portions of their workbooks. The workbook keeps a record of the skills and concepts that we have learned over the year.
Though the program at Gene Juarez is very strong in terms of its hands-on training, one weakness I have noticed is the lack of respect that the company shows for its academy instructors. As students, we are taught to treat our instructors with respect. I think the company could do more to show respect and appreciation for the professional stylists who train the students.
Gene Juarez provides advanced training programs in hair design and coloring at their Seattle location. Each advanced program requires 6 additional months of training and allows students to broaden their skill set in cosmetology.
My cosmetology program does not include an internship in the traditional sense but does require students to obtain a certain number of work hours. I am required to log 1600 hours, which is the amount of hours needed to earn my license. This number is different depending on the state that you live in.
I would caution students to stay focused and get through their program hours as quickly as possible. Cosmetology requires hundreds of hours of work and students sometimes lose focus along the way. As a result, they end up taking months or even years longer to complete their certification and obtain licensing.
I find it challenging to pay for my rent and other expenses while working, unpaid, for 40 hours a week at the academy. But the experience has also been rewarding. One unexpected benefit of living off campus has been the opportunity to take responsibility for my own life. I have never lived on my own before, so these difficulties have helped me mature into an adult.
A drawback of living off campus for many students is the commute. I live close to the academy, so this drawback has not affected me, but others in my program commute 40 minutes or more.
Although the classwork for my program is extensive, the homework is limited. My only homework has been to complete portions of my workbook each evening, which takes about 30 minutes.
My goal is to find work in a salon and spa. I am interested in working in many different areas within cosmetology besides hair design and coloring. Massage, nails and esthetics are a few sub-fields that I can imagine doing in the future.
Cosmetology is a broad enough subject area to accommodate several different career paths. Cosmetologists make as much money as they are willing to earn and finding jobs in this field is relatively easy. Those who dedicate themselves to mastering their art and meeting clients' needs can do very well.
I want students to know that focus, friends and creativity are the keys to success in cosmetology. Cosmetology programs are intense. Many people burn out under the strain and lose focus. As a result, they either leave their programs or take much longer to earn their certificates. Students who stay focused, however, can leave the classroom and work with clients much sooner.
The best way to avoid burn out is to make friendships. Friends can be the sounding board during study sessions. Even more importantly, friends provide stress relief and emotional support.
Overall though, creativity is the most powerful tool a student of cosmetology possesses. Creativity keeps the profession interesting in the long run. It allows students flexibility and the confidence to try new things in new ways.
