Starting in the cosmetology industry in high school used to be confusing for me, but the Tennessee Youth Employment program really helped me figure things out. TYEP gave me a way to actually get started in the cosmetology industry.

One of the biggest things it helped me with is getting hands on practice. Instead of just watching and guessing, I got to actually try things and learn step by step. That made me feel way more confident in what I’m doing.

TYEP also taught me how to be more responsible. It showed me how to act in a work setting, how to treat people, and how important it is to be on time and take things seriously. That’s something I didn’t really think about before.

Another thing I like is having people there to help me. When I mess up or don’t understand something, there’s always someone to guide me and help me get better. That made everything less stressful.

Overall, TYEP helped me get a real start in cosmetology. I feel more confident, I’ve learned new skills, and now I can actually see this as something I want to do in the future.