Beginning the Journey

Today marks my last day in Maryland before I head out to Kansas to begin my journey as a cosmetology student.

         A year and a half ago I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. It was the end of the summer of 2009 and I was having an identity crisis. For my entire life I thought that I was destined to be a teacher. As a child I played school to the max... I am talking about class rosters, fake students, typing up dittos on my computer and grading papers. I was not your average school player. I knew that I loved children but the problem was that I DID NOT love school. So while on a trip to Alexandria, Virginia, visiting my boyfriend Chris' sister, I had my identity crisis. We were walking in and out of the cute little shops in town and looking at all of the beautiful hand made handicrafts as Deb from Napoleon Dynamite would say. I knew that I needed something a little more creative and a little less binding as becoming a teacher. On our shopping trip we came to a little grove of trees by the water and sat down on a big rock and just had an open discussion on how I probably was not cut out to be a teacher. We went through the many possibilities of what my "calling" was. We talked about art school, becoming an art teacher, and finally started talking about hair school. My mom was a hair stylist and she always cut my hair in her bathroom and when I was really little, she would take me into the salon that she worked in. I had always been interested in the beauty industry, but could never figure out how to do both teaching and hair. My mom reminded me of this as we sat in Alexandria. This was all about two weeks before I was due back at Eastern University. As those two weeks came to an end, I had my dad withdraw me from EU and I cried and cried grieving the loss of who I thought I would become for so many years. After everyone else went back to school, I was calling Harford Community College, trying to squeeze myself into a full class load. Back in high school, I accidentally signed up for a scholarship to HCC and received a $2,500 scholarship to a school I was not going to. We decided to save it and it worked out for the best. Meanwhile, my mom encouraged me to try to find a shampoo girl job at Jordan Thomas Salon and Spa, where she got her hair done. She told me that the girl that did her hair was the manager and maybe she could give me a job. I met Nikki that fateful day and I got the job after applying and talking to the owner, Terry. Terry thought that I would be a good fit up at the front desk and Nikki wanted me on her shampoo team... fortunately for me, they hired and trained me for both positions. :)
         I knew by that time that I was definitely interested in going to cosmetology school, so my mom and I went and looked at Pulse Beauty Academy in Downingtown, PA, my parents home town. I was sold from the minute I stepped in the door. Little did I know that I would end up somewhere a thousand miles away.
I had a very hard time with the fact that I was going to HCC for the year, knowing that I really wanted to be in hair school. But I know that the Associates degree is good to have if I ever have another identity crisis and want to go back to school. Spring came and I was so excited about the beauty industry! Terry, my boss, thought it would be good to go see another cosmetology school and I was interested in Graham Webb in Washington D.C. So we packed up the car and drove down for the morning and saw the school. On our way home we were all talking and Terry looked at me and said, "Don't laugh, but there is another school that I would love for you to look at." I waited and thought, "California, New York, Chicago... BIG CITY" she then reminded my mom and I not to laugh again and said, "Kansas"... My mom and I looked at each other and said, "WHAT! Kansas? Hair school in Kansas?" We all laughed and she began to tell us about Eric Fisher and his Academy. I went home and googled it and the website was just beautiful. I told my mom that I was really interested and she was like, "What? You want to go there? Now I will really know that you are maturing if you will sacrifice your summer with Chris for hair school!" After working hard, we planned our trip out to Wichita, Kansas to see Eric Fisher Academy. Needless to say, I LOVED IT!
Two days after my trip to KS, I flew to Africa. I knew that I wanted to go back to Children of Zion Village in Namibia. I knew that this was my chance to spend 3 months with the orphans that I fell in love with 3 years ago. This was my chance to do it before cosmetology school and before what I call "real life" sets in. My trip was amazing and I would do it again in a heart beat. I miss my kids so much and have no doubt that I will be back someday to visit.
         So like I said... Today marks my last day in Maryland before I head out to Kansas to begin my journey as a cosmetology student. I don't have Ruby slippers and I actually have never seen The Wizard of OZ before but I am confident that with the help of God, I will be successful in this season of life. I am beyond excited to start my journey and blessed to have a roommate from Maryland! Nicole and I went to high school together and I work at Jordan Thomas with her mom and she decided after getting her degree in Art and Photography, that she too wanted to start a journey of her own on the Yellow Brick Road. :) Wish me blessings!

BON VOYAGE MARYLAND! GET READY KANSAS... YOU HAVE TWO CRAZY GIRLS ON THEIR WAY!