CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The demand for trade skills continues to expand offering high schoolers a chance to forego traditional college and start off on a career much sooner. For some young adults, learning a trade is their second chance at doing something meaningful for the community.
The House of Elegance Cosmetology School is showing students how to make clients feel good in addition to looking good.
The students spoke with 3NEWS about having an opportunity to occupy their time with an activity that expresses creativity. Some of them have busy schedules with other jobs and responsibilities. The House of Elegance Cosmetology program – works around their schedules so they're able to do something that they feel has a real impact.
Cody Weischwill is one of many students at the cosmetology school.
“Making someone feel beautiful is probably the best feeling in the world," he said. “I think it’s the smile, after I’m done. If I do hair, and I don’t see someone’s smile. I don’t get that satisfaction.”
Another student, Bethany Rusher, looked for a creative outlet to occupy her time.
"Got stuck for months looking for a job, and nobody wanted to hire, so with my mom I decided to go to back to school and learn a trade," she said.
Rusher felt that she was given another opportunity to do something meaningful. Now she's excelling in the nine month program at the House of Elegance Cosmetology School. The facility offers everything from perms, waxing, and facials.
“I grew up wanting to change the world," Rusher said. "Obviously, this isn’t that, but it’s a step in the right direction of someone who can.”
For student Tania Solis, she came from a corporate background.
“So with corporate America, you’re kind of like in a box," Solis said. "It’s great, it’s an amazing career to be in corporate America. However, with cosmetology, there is no box. You’re not in a box, there’s no ceiling.”
One strand at a time, Solis is surpassing her goals in an industry she’s always dreamt of as a child.
“We need opportunities," she said. "We realize that we might’ve started our career in one career, like mine was in banking. As I matured from that I decided what do I really want to do.”
Ebony Stewart is the director of education for the school. She says behind every wave, and every spritz of water, a stylist has a story.
“Cosmetology is not something that you’re going to be stuck in a salon, you can take cosmetology anywhere you go,” Stewart said. “Trade and cosmetology is something that’s never going to go anywhere.”
The House of Elegance Cosmetology School also offers scholarships. You can learn much more at their open house Friday, November 17 from 9am – 5pm at 4515 Weber Road.
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