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So I am 17 and have been thinking for a couple of years that I would like to teach middle school kind of age eventually. But I am not sure yet what I really need to do in terms of college degree to achieve that and how long it will take.
Meanwhile I have been working Saturday's at this beauty salon and I enjoy it there too and like working with people. Well the owner has offered me a partial sponsorship to go to cosmetology school locally and still work with them part time if I want to go and do hair.
It's like so different but so tempting too. Maybe just because it feels familiar. But I know I'd have a job at the end of it which I don't know with teaching and yet I don't see myself doing hair at 40 and being happy with it. I wondered about doing cosmetology now and working for a bit and then going back to college to do teaching later, but my mom said I might think that now but once life happens I will never do it. She thinks I should do teaching if that's my real dream, but now I am not sure, or maybe am scared of the unknown and debt.
I say do what interests you but I will caution you on choosing what seems easiest. You have a long life ahead of you, if you have to bust butt a little now to do what you really enjoy, it will be well worth it.
While I don't know what is best for you, I'll pass on the story of my mother-in-law. She had the opportunity to go to beauty school (which is what they called it then) or college. She chose beauty school, and has since said that it was the wrong choice. She did hair for awhile, never did get back to school, and while she ended up with a decent job it's also the kind of job it would be difficult to get without a college degree in this day and age. I haven't asked her directly about your question, but I'm guessing that her answer would be that unless you have a real passion for cosmetology you should go with the college option.
While I don't know what is best for you, I'll pass on the story of my mother-in-law. She had the opportunity to go to beauty school (which is what they called it then) or college. She chose beauty school, and has since said that it was the wrong choice. She did hair for awhile, never did get back to school, and while she ended up with a decent job it's also the kind of job it would be difficult to get without a college degree in this day and age. I haven't asked her directly about your question, but I'm guessing that her answer would be that unless you have a real passion for cosmetology you should go with the college option.
Thanks to both of you. uptown_urbanist, thanks for sharing this. I think your mother-in-law's story is what my mom fears most for me and me too a bit. Like, I think I will do hair for a few years and earn some more money and experience of life and then go back to college and then teach, but that life will get in the way and that I will never then make the move.
Thanks to both of you. uptown_urbanist, thanks for sharing this. I think your mother-in-law's story is what my mom fears most for me and me too a bit. Like, I think I will do hair for a few years and earn some more money and experience of life and then go back to college and then teach, but that life will get in the way and that I will never then make the move.
Food for thought. Thanks.
I would advise you to go to college first. It will be MUCH easier to go back to cosmetology school later in life than college. You could actually do both if you wanted. You could teach during the school year and cut hair in the summer. Your opportunities are endless going to college and more limited if not.
Nice of your employer to offer to help pay for cosmotology school, but if it's not what you want to do, then I would pass. Work hard to get good grades and learn about different ways to save money, and hopefully you won't have to incur much or any debt to become a teacher. There are also loan forgiveness programs for teachers with student loans who teach in high-need areas.
Best of luck!
I think the problem is that we all tend to think of the first career also being your last or only one. I think there is nothing wrong with starting out in cosmetology and going to school on the side for a business degree with the idea of one day owning a salon. I think being a teacher, especially one for MS kids, is a calling. There are too many mediocre teachers in our schools now that are not passionate and burn out after a few years. And yes, the job market is pretty bad for teachers right now and is not predicted to get better any time soon.
Some of the most successful teachers are ones that had another career first.
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