Why did you decide to become a stylist? I’ve always been into anything artistic. So I wanted a career where I could use my creative side. Growing up, I was always doing hair, nails, and makeup for friends and family. Eventually I decided to join a cosmetology program and get licensed.

Why did you decide to become a stylist? I always tell people that I got lucky. This wasn’t a lifelong dream of mine. But while I was in high school I learned about the cosmetology program at BCTC (Berks Career & Technology Center) and thought, “What do you mean I can play with hair instead of going to school all day?” It took a few months, but by the end of the first year of the program I knew I actually wanted to be a stylist and it would be a good career for me. When did you join Thanx? ...

Why did you decide to become a stylist? It was a little spur of the moment. For a while I wanted to work with animals. That morphed into being a pet groomer. Then in school we had an assembly about the Votech Center, which had a cosmetology program. I thought I could do that and move into pet grooming afterwards, so I started the program in 10th grade. Over the next three years I completed 1,250 hours and had my full license by the time I graduated high school. By that time I realized I...