This Regency grad has goals of salon ownership and sharing her passion for the industry
with future students.
Regency: Tell us about your career path since you graduated, and what your goals
are for the future.
Schreen: The more I learn the more I want to know! The longer I
work behind the chair, the more I realize that there is so much more I can do in
this industry! My ultimate goal is to buy a salon, learn everything I possibly can
about the industry and salon ownership, and then go back to Regency as an educator
so I can teach the students there to be successful!
Regency: Is there a particular service you like doing more than others?
Schreen: I’m absolutely crazy about color! I love experimenting
with highlights, low-lights, or under-color to jazz things up a bit. I love cutting
hair too. I always look at people and visualize what type of style I could create
for them.
Regency: What is your favorite part of your job?
Schreen: There are so many things I love about what I do! One thing
I’ve learned about this industry is that you learn something new every single day.
The woman I work for has been in the business for 26 years and I love to pick her
brain and learn from her. I also love meeting new people, and I love that I have
the freedom to make my own schedule.
Regency: How did your education prepare you for your career?
Schreen: The educators at the Peoria campus were always reminding
us to practice, practice, practice! They made sure that we understood what we were
being taught. I felt so comfortable asking questions anytime. I loved the opportunities
we had to hear guest speakers, see demonstrations and meet salon owners. If we wanted
extra help with something or needed more hands-on or demonstrations, all we had
to do was ask and they went out of their way to provide that for us.
Regency: Do you have any advice for current or future cosmetology students?
Schreen: My advice for people who are thinking about going to cosmetology
school is “Just do it!” I literally woke up one day and decided that I was going
to go to cosmetology school. That day I drove to Regency, took a tour, and fell
in love! I started a month later. I always wanted to be a cosmetologist. Now that
I am, I can’t imagine doing anything else.
For current students, I’d say a few things:
- Do not expect to walk out of school and know how to do everything. I thought that
the day I graduated I would just be an expert! It’s okay to ask other stylists for
their opinions or help.
- ALWAYS ask your educators “Why?” Pick their brains! No question is stupid.
- There is money to be made in this industry – but it takes time. Are you going to
make $50,000 your first year out of school? Probably not. You have to prove yourself
to your clientele. But once you get it, you’ve got it!
Regency: Do you have any final thoughts?
Schreen: I just want to say that I absolutely love what I do! I
always loved doing hair and makeup. I was the friend that did everyone’s hair before
a dance or a girls’ night out, but I never actually thought that I would be doing
this for a living!
Updated: December 21, 2009
Regency Beauty has not made and will not make any guarantees of employment or salary upon graduation.