When I Grow Up

 

As a young child, we were all asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My answers ranged from a veterinarian to a fashion designer. Finally, a week before my 22nd birthHighday, I know my answer to this question. This was not easy; it took research, job shadowing, and volunteering to get to my answer.

Before starting college, I wanted to be a hair stylist and make-up artist. Luckily for me, my high school offered the opportunity to dual-enroll with a local cosmetology school during to a few students their senior year (3 classes and 40-50 hours a week at cosmetology school). I was selected to be a part of the program, and graduated from cosmetology school early (three weeks before I finished high school). After graduating I was supposed to go take my licensing test, and I would be able to work at a salon. However, I had a feeling inside of me that there was something else out there for me. So, instead of spending the money on getting my license, I went to a local community college.

While working on a philanthropy project for one of my classes at the community college, I had push in the right direction. For part of this project, we were to complete 15 hours of volunteer hours. So, I helped design signs for the youth director at a local church for their holiday events. She loved what I designed, and told me I should use my talents by going into marketing. This was the first time I had heard of marketing, but if it was as fun as designing posters I had to check it out.

So, I started a little research, which turned into hours and hours of research. The more I learned about marketing, the more I loved it. The different layers of marketing were so interesting, too - public relations, advertising, communications, personal selling, research and much more. It sounded perfect.

I'm seven weeks away from graduating, and I can proudly say that when I grow up I want to be a marketing manager in the beauty industry. Now, the real fun begins; time to find a job that will get me there. Wish me luck!