Waking up thirty minutes before class started, college girl pony tail, sweats, and yesterdays makeup was a typical day for me. I wasn’t excited about school, I wasn’t excited about life. Each day, I woke up, went to class…sometimes, and put off studying or homework for as long as possible. Let’s be honest. I never studied and I hardly did homework. And, well, to be really honest, if it was raining, I NEVER went to class. Who wants to walk across campus in the rain? Couldn’t find parking? Perfect! Best. Excuse. Ever.
I spent an entire year wasting my time and watching tuition money swirl down the drain. I initially enrolled in college to become a teacher, but those classes were totally Snooze Ville for me. I decided Sign Language Interpreting would be way more exciting. The hands on aspect allowed me to make it through another three semesters but who was I kidding? I just wasn’t that into it.
A full year of no school allowed me the freedom to become a professional chef and cleaning extraordinaire, greeting my husband with a full plate of breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a daily basis. I took a lot of pictures of my cat that year, and the best part of the day was when my husband came home and I greeted him like a puppy at the front door.
I should have added somewhere back there that at the time my husband was in the military and eventually deployed for a 12 month tour to Afghanistan. I moved back home to Omaha and took up making homemade dog collars, eating candy, and crying. Wondering how this ties into Capitol? I’m getting there.
I had a friend, who had a friend that went to Capitol for Cosmetology. That’s as much as I knew about it. I looked up their website and sent in an inquiry. At that time I wasn’t sure which department I was more interested in, Cosmetology or Esthetics? When I met with Director Scott McCaig a few days later, Esthetics just seemed right. Spots were limited so I jumped in with both feet and enrolled immediately.
I had a serious case of puppy love with school. Don’t be weird about it, okay? Five o’clock came too fast and I didn’t want to leave at the end of each day. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. It felt good to be excited about school, it felt great to enjoy school everyday. Each day flew by and before I knew it, six months had passed. They cut the cord and handed me my diploma.
I spent seven long months in the salon, pressed by numbers and dollar signs I felt myself growing crazier and crazier with each passing day. While I learned so much more hands on experience, retail, add on, and upgrade skills then I ever imagined in that amount of time, it just wasn’t for me. I love Esthetics, and I love educating clients or anyone I know about skincare and cosmetics. I needed to put that love to good use. What good is love if it’s left unused?
I made my way back to Capitol and inquired about the Student Instructor Program. One of my Esthetics instructors once told me they thought I’d want to continue my education later on, and boy were they right! My first day of instructor school began just a few weeks later. The first few days seemed a little surreal. It takes you back in time almost. Almost everything was exactly where it had been two years prior when I was a student. I learned a lot in a short amount of time, finishing my instructor program in about two and a-half months. It all sort of made sense in the end. While I loved the idea of going to school to become a teacher, and liked the hands on aspect of Interpreting… I don’t think I would have loved teaching subjects that I didn’t love and I know I wouldn’t have loved interpreting. An Esthetics instructor allows me to combine my favorite things.
I was offered a position here at Capitol towards the end of my instructor program, and of course, gladly accepted. So here I am, Mrs. Bailey, Esthetics Instructor. From student, to student again, to instructor. What can I say? I just can’t get enough of Capitol.
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