BeautyLink - Volume 7, Issue 3 - (Page 38) A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Olivia Lusk Continental School of Beauty comes from a family with a very artistic background, from beauticians to painters and architects. They've always been the type to want to create. As the middle child of three, growing up she was considered "nerdy" in school. She knew everything about video games, and even collected books about how to create video games. Her love for them led her to choose her first career path. She obtained an associate's degree in graphic design - but she found beauty school. OLIVIA LUSK, 24, BL: You earned a degree in graphic design and then decided to attend beauty school. What led you to that decision? Name: Olivia Lusk School: Continental School of Beauty, Rochester, NY Area of Study: Cosmetology Start Date: October 8, 2014 Graduation Date: July 8, 2015 Hobbies: Video games, dog hiking, working out, drawing and writing Olivia: Before graduating and getting my degree, I researched potential employers. It seemed like I was one of millions who wanted the same job. Competition was very high and travel was a must. After looking at the qualifications needed to proceed in the concept artist industry, I found myself at a loss...Knowing that I needed at least five more years of school and three more years of an apprentice program, I looked away from the glamour of the game industry and focused on myself. I moved around a lot and worked low-end jobs. When I finally settled down in Rochester, New York, I started pursuing other goals. I'm the girl with crazy hair, and I always colored and styled it myself. Living in Rochester's open atmosphere, added to the many compliments on my hair and led me to beauty school. I decided I was done learning amateur things from You Tube - I was going to learn how to do it all. BL: What is your favorite part about beauty school? Does your school have a student you'd like us to interview for a future "A Student's Perspective" in BeautyLink? Write to us at editor@beautyschools.org. 38 Olivia: My favorite thing about beauty school is coloring. Not only because I always have colorful hair, but because there is so much more to it than just looking at a swatch and saying, "I want that." I love the creativity that comes with color. I'm fascinated that a few highlights can brighten someone's overall look and make them glow. I love changing someone's hair from blonde to a rich chocolate and seeing how their eye color pops...Just a small color transition can make you feel like a whole new person, and that's what I love about color. After my guest sees the work I've done, they always leave smiling, constantly touching and looking at their hair in the mirror and saying, "I don't know how you did it, but I love it!" The science behind color also makes it that much more satisfying. I love suggesting color relationships. | B E AU TYLINK | N A ILI NG IT! | 2015 BL: What do you want to do after obtaining a license? Olivia: I plan to work at a salon that allows open creativity and constructive criticism. I know I won't always have guests that want something that I suggest, but I want to be the person that provides them the best experience that they have ever had. Overall, I want to be able to work in a positive working environment where I can always grow and learn from my co-workers...eventually, be that person that other stylist can look up to. BL: What has been the most difficult concept to master in beauty school and why? How did you overcome the challenge? Olivia: What I found most difficult in school was cutting. With cutting, there's no reset or undo button. Once you cut, there's no going back. My teacher could tell I was worried that I would not be comfortable and simply told me, "All you have to do is try, and you might be surprised." I found comfort in that advice. The first day of learning cutting, I learned three cuts and practiced them at least three times each. I paused before each cut thinking, "No, this is wrong. Comb again." Finally, I looked at my mannequin in the mirror and said, "You know what, it's fine if I chop your hair off. I'm learning." Once I let my guard down, I finished all my cuts that day with great feedback. BL: What is the best advice you've received about the industry and profession? Olivia: The best advice I received came out of beauty school. All of my teachers and guest speakers say that once you get out of school, you have to keep learning, whether it's new techniques, products or something else. If you do not push yourself to learn in this industry, you're constricting your image. If you want to be the person who can do more than the basics, and you keep learning, you'll turn into that beautician that can do it all. BL: What advice do you have for people who want a career in the beauty industry? Olivia: Always stay positive and true to yourself. If you have the passion for this industry, do not let anyone get you down, especially yourself. Learning beauty is not a one day thing - it is something you will take with you the rest of your life. You will receive what you put into this career, so if you only put in a little you will only get a little back. If you give it your all, you will find yourself doing things you never thought possible. Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BeautyLink - Volume 7, Issue 3 Message From the Aacs President and CEA Chair CEA Annual Convention & Expo Preview Event Recap: 2015 Spring Executive Retreat & Financial Aid Workshop AACS’ New State Relations Program Advisor And Than There's Compliance Manlink Producing Professionals Fall’s Top Nail Trends Superstar Graduate Beauty Schools Aim to Bring New Life to Nail Tech Programs Multicultural Corner A Student's Perspective Beauty Changes Lives People & Places New Products and Services Associate Member Profiles: Nail Specialty Companies New School Members Upcoming 2015 Events Index to Advertisers Advertisers.com BeautyLink - Volume 7, Issue 3 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0218 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0118 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0417 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0317 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0217 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0117 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0416 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0316 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0216 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0116 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0415 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0315 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0215 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0115 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0414 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0314 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0214 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0114 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0413 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0313 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/BSAQ/BSAQ0213 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0113 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0412 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0312 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0212 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0112 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0411 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0311 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0211 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0111 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ2011MediaKit http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0410 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0310 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0210 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0110 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0409 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0309 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0209 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BSAQ0109 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com