I recently found out a few weeks ago that I'm GRADUATING cosmetology school early!! When I talked to our advisor Bonnie about graduating I wasn't graduating until June. I go to SLCC Taylorsville Redwood campus and they do two graduation walks, one in may and another towards the end of the year, even though I wouldn't be fully done with my hours until June I was still able to walk in the ceremony in May. I was STOKED! Marissa, Michelle [My girls from school :)] and I were planning on walking together!! We walked down to Bonnie's office to ask more on graduation and she pulls up my attendance and classes completed, then she looks up at me and tells me I'm gonna be graduating a lot sooner then I had planned.. try May 1st!!!! I was in shock.. that is exactly 24 days from today not including weekends. Um... Now I'm freaking out...in a good way :) not only am I nervous about being done with my certificate I'm more nervous about Exits and State boards!! I have my Exits on April 18th. Exits at SLCC are considered your pre-state board test, if you cant pass your exits you cant pass state boards but our instructors want us to use this time as practice to understand exactly how state boards are gonna be..  I love that about SLCC! After I take my exits I can sign up for my state boards and my written exam at anytime I feel ready to take the test!! Guess will see :) 

Yesterday was the graduation fair!! That's the time you check to make sure your name going on the certificate and degree is correct, pick up cap, gown and tassel [ I bought my own tassel from jostens because the one they gave you was ugly :)] you decide on your announcements, head shot pictures in your cap and gown and then you get your honorary sash[that's what I'm calling it for now because I cant remember it's exact name] this is a blue sash that you wear during the ceremony and you write a message on it for somebody who has been your biggest support through out your college experience, I ended up getting two. One for my grandmother, she has been my biggest support if it wasn't for her stepping up to help me get enrolled at SLCC in the first place and making me stick to being committed I don't think I would be graduating as early as I am!! Thanks G-ma and one for my parents. They have helped so much on the financial side of my college considering I had no scholarships and was unaccepted for financial aid so they've paid my entire program from pocket and have been such good supporters throughout my college experience! I could never repay them :) and of course my fiance Teej he has helped so much from stepping up to help out with money to giving me foot massages for my sore feet after a long day at school. He has been the biggest supporter..from high school drill team to my full year of beauty school!! I love him so much for his patients I cant wait to give these to them graduation night!! :) It's going to be a great night filled with tons of laughs and memories to go around!! Starting back in summer I hope to return and get my Associates Degree!! I couldn't be happier!!

I also wanted to give you guys a little in-site on why I chose SLCC and what I plan on taking with me into my profession! When I first started looking into private schools I wasn't sure quite exactly what I was looking for. I knew I had always wanted to go to beauty school but never knew what it would be like to actually be in a beauty school. I looked into many schools. Paul Mitchell was a no. I have never liked paul mitchell products so why would I go to that school hating their product?? I then checked into Marinello in layton, close to home and I had heard great things from them so I made an appointment for me and my father to go down and take a tour of the school and get all the details, come to find out it was way out of our price range.. they were asking for 20 grand up front! Yeah no thanks. Marinello was out of the picture I looked around at some other schools and was having no luck in finding the perfect school for me. I called up my grandma to tell her I didn't think beauty school was gonna happen that year because I couldn't find a school in budget or that fit my taste. She of course did some researching herself and contacted me with SLCC's barbering/Cos program. I had no idea they even had a program for that at a community college. So I told her we could take a tour and see. So we did and when we took the tour they were in process of moving and remodeling the floors so I didn't like it at all. I couldn't picture myself standing there working like as if I was in a salon. But we finished the tour and we left on the car ride home my grandma was trying to convince me this was gonna be the best choice I could ever make by coming to this school.. in my head I'm thinking "ya right" but after long talks and lots of paper work she explained to me that I could finish a 2 year program in little over a year and get my associates degree as well. An associates degree.. I'd never thought of that. I was sold if I could get my certificate and my degree in little over a year for way less money then a private school.. why not? All the other private schools I looked into didn't offer that and were expensive.. no thanks!! I started my first day of cosmetology school on January 10, 2011. They start you out for one semester in orientation [which is nothing but bookwork and manikin work] before you ever reach the floor! I was upset at first! I don't wanna do manikin work all day.. can I just tell you how happy I am now to see why they do it that way!! Once reaching the floor your not nervous you've been taught for months everything you need to know.. don't get me wrong, ya your first client is always nerve racking but after that you become a pro! :) by summer semester I was full time on the floor and have been ever since. I was able to go to school full time and work my job and because I was able to work everything into a working schedule I'm now graduating early :) I've grown to learn so much from this program and my instructors will follow me for life.. I couldn't of asked for better instructors. SLCC is ranked #1 in the nation for skills USA which is taught by an incredible teacher Grace! She was also my orientation teacher!! She took a student to nationals last year in which she took first place!! We were so proud!! Grace has dedicated so much time to this school it wouldn't be the same without her! SLCC also has a senior theory which only focuses on state boards.. other schools don't get the time to learn the basics of the state boards when SLCC has a whole semester for it.. :) love it!! I've never had a bad time with any teacher and no conflicts with any students!! Im so happy with the choice I made in picking SLCC and I can now go into my profession with the confidence I need to be a great hairstylist!!!!! 

Sorry for it being a book but for any of you interested in beauty school I defiantly recommend SLCC in a heart beat!! :) I'll leave you with some of my memories and work I've done for the past year :)