Cosmetology School

I graduated high school in 2009. During the fall of that year I had not been attending any college classes and things were getting serious at home about doing something with my life. First let me say that I was working full time during the day in an office. It was clearly not a job I wanted for the rest of my life. I was 18 and I needed to figure things out.

I have always loved changing my hair color and I constantly get it cut. I would do such crazy things with my hair that people would tell me all the time that I should go to cosmetology school. I thought it would be cool, but to actually do it? NO WAY!! I was too scared! But, I was 18 living at home, working at a job I hated, and feeling pressure at home about making a decision about my future. I can remember many nights arguing with my Mom about what I was going to do with my life. I was just so scared to fail I didn't want to do anything.

My Mom and I started to pray about what to do. We would pray almost every night together about what I should do with my future.  I came to a crossroads. One way was to jump into photography. I love taking pictures. I looked into a lot of different schools, and classes, and the price of equipment. The other option was cosmetology school. Which was also pretty pricey. I think the cosmetology option seemed to make the most sense. But the cost was the one thing that was holding me back. I was praying all the time for an answer. I didn't know what to do!

One night I was at a family members home and the discussion of my future came up. The same questions everyone asks a high school graduate, ‘‘So what are you doing now?'' I answered honestly and said I wasn't sure, but I was thinking about cosmetology school, although I was not sure if that would work because of the cost. And out of nowhere this family member offered to loan me the money for school. I was shocked. I was speechless! I never in a million years would have asked this family member for a loan! Was this the answer? Was this God telling me to go to cosmetology school?? Well after more prayer and talking out the details - It was cosmetology School for me!

I started January 2010 and was enrolled for the evening classes because I still had to work during the day. I remember so clearly the first night. I remember telling my self,  ''Ok just this one night. And if you don't like it, you don't have to keep going.'' Well, the first class was such a great experience; I didn't even remember that I had given myself an out. I fell in love with my classes! For 2 years I worked full time during the day and went to school every night. Class didn't get out till 10:15 every night and it was tough, but I fought through it. And I completed the entire course of classes.

Now was the hard part: Taking the 1 day, 8 hour practical test, with someone monitoring my every move! Despite all my nerves, I felt God with me, holding my hand, walking with me through the whole day.

Let me start by saying that the date I was given to take my test was also the same date that my friend from school would be taking her test (It rarely happens that 2 people from the same class get the same test date) So, not only would my friend be with me, but my mom would also to be there to be my model for the test.

The night before the big test I was all ready to go but I was having a major panic attack. I was so nervous. I just wasn’t able to relax. I opened my phone and the bible app was open (which I didn't remember opening) the verse that was displayed was ‘‘Remember the Lord in all you do, and He will give you success.'' Proverbs 3:6 I started to cry when I read this. I knew that God was with me.  It gave me such a peace.

The day of the test came. We had to wake up and be on the road by 6am.  The test was at 8am in L.A.  And there was no way I was going to be late. The test is broken into 2 sections. First half was practical and the second was a written exam.

So the practical exam started. The instructor that administered the test was super tough. It was a blessing that after the second procedure she was called away. Another instructor came and was so relaxed and easy going.

I was going along doing my thing. Each procedure was timed. The timer would go off with a halfway warning. There was this one procedure that I had practiced and practiced and practiced and I could not finish it in the time allotted for the test. I finally told myself that if I could get everything else correct, it would be ok to fail this one procedure. When that one procedure came up I was so nervous. I remember praying throughout the whole procedure. I was getting towards the end of this procedure and I remember that I had never heard the halfway warning. It turns out that she had forgotten to set the timer for this particular procedure. To make it fair she gave everyone an extra 10 minutes!!!!!! What?? This was crazy!!!

The rest of the practical testing went by great. After the completion of the practical section we had about  a 2-hour break before our written exam. I spoke to my Mom about that one procedure that the instructor forgot the timer on and she said she was praying and asking God if He could stop time for this one procedure so that I could finish it. Isn't that crazy?!!! God is so good!!! The written test went by perfectly. It wasn't hard at all. And after a super long wait ... I PASSED!!!!

God was with me that ENTIRE day. I will never forget it. It seems so silly in the scheme of the world. It would not be the worst thing to fail the test or run out of time. But God cared so much about me and the silly little things that I was so concerned about, that he made it all work out with a positive outcome...

I remember driving home that day and I just started crying. God had this all planned out. He directed me all the way from making the decision to go to school and getting through those tough 2 years, and then helping me pass the state board exam. When it seems so silly to stress about little things God cares and He is here. He listens to our concerns and helps us. We don't deserve this love but He loves us.

If He cared enough about me to give me these little victories and to let me pass a test that really isn’t that big of a deal in the big picture of the world. Image how much he can bless us and care for our bigger needs and things that we go through. Our God is all-powerful. He wants to help us with everything we go through and things we have to deal with.

Thank you for reading! God loves you and He cares about every step we take.

Jeremiah 29: 11

For I know the plans I have for you,’’ declares the Lord, ‘’plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future