In the CTE cosmetology room, in the midst of nail stations and hair styling tools, hardworking students complete their practice assignments as they gain needed hours and prepare for their cosmetology exams. In the state of Texas, a cosmetology license requires 1000 hours of training and a passing score on a written and practicum exam.
After accumulating 1000 hours, members of the Cosmetology 2 classes are preparing for their state exams. It takes a lot of work and knowledge to get to this point in their journey to be licensed.
The students say showing up to class is essential in completing their necessary hours.
“It’s not hard at all,” senior Karla Perez said. “Attendance is important though. If you want your hours, you have to be at school every day.”
Cosmetology is a skilled profession focusing on the practice of beauty services among different sectors. This includes techniques in caring for hair, skin, and nails. Cosmetology 2 students say that the hardest aspect of the class is to retain the needed information; which can be about all aspects of the industry, including very meticulous knowledge about the needed tools and chemicals.
(photo or infographic by WHS Cosmo)
“The hardest thing about cosmetology is what happens during those hours,” senior Lily Griffin said. “It is so difficult to remember everything because cosmetology isn’t just curling someone’s hair. It’s literally knowing everything from the electrical components of a blow dryer to understanding the chemical compounds in relaxers.”
During class, students gain experience and practice; however, salon days provide a lot of hours and experience. On salon days, people from outside of school can come and receive salon services by student practitioners.
“Some things we do in class to help us prepare for real-world hairstyling are hosting salon days and having guest speakers,” Griffin said. “Our salon days bring in people that we are unfamiliar with to help us get comfortable working on people we don’t know, much like the real world would be. When we have guest speakers come in they are able to give us the raw truth about what it’s like in the industry. Some of them come prepared with hands-on activities for us so we can get a taste of their day in the life.”
The completion of hours also affects other students, Cosmetology 1 students are inspired by the hard work and the payoff Cosmetology 2 students are achieving. Having a visual of others completing their goal can help students become more confident in their efforts.
“When I see others completing their required hours it motivates me to keep going and that the hard work pays off,” junior, Cosmetology 1 student, Roxana Castellanos said. “I’m preparing by using flashcards, studying, taking lots of notes, and letting everything sink in. Soon I’ll be getting my license and having a backup plan.”
Students say that having this opportunity here allows Wildkats to go into the work field with a valid license and earn money straight after high school. Some students plan on having this profession as an income to help pay for higher education.
“I am looking forward to achieving my 1000 hours towards my cosmetology license,” Castellanos said. “I can’t wait to use my license and get into the workforce to help me pay for college. I am so happy that our high school has a career pathway like this so I am prepared for the real world.”
Other students around the school have encouraging words for those who are in the process of completing their hours, especially those with friends in the cosmetology program.
“I hope they continue to work hard and practice so that when finish they can be successful and get a bag,” junior Jennifer Briceno said.
