Entry #10

FINAL REFLECTION

Dates: 11/7/12 - 11/10/12

Reflection: As for my final reflection, I would just like to first thank Ms.Oster, even though she is gone. She was such a help through this whole process. She put together so much and was always there when any of us needed help. I know this next AOIT director is going to be great too and I really look forward to meeting him/her but Ms.Oster did so much for us and we were all sad to see her go. 

               My internship was better than I ever could have imagined. This experience has really changed my life, and for the better! I learned so much while I was there, and I am also very sure they learned things from me while I have been working there too (all computer things or high school slang) but I mostly learned from them. Such as, how to style hair, what is all in the process of owning a salon, a little bit about how to formulate color, and what it's like to be in a work environment, because this was my first job. I feel like I have grown up so much since I started working at the salon. This job is something I always look forward to going to. I love going to work we have so much fun and I learn so much all the time! All of the girls I work with are great. We are seriously like a family, all up in each other's business all the time and getting on each other's nerves or in each other's way. But we all love each other and would be there for one another through anything. There are only five of us so I think that makes a difference too because it is easier for us to get closer to one another. When I came into this internship I was not completely sure what I wanted to do with my life yet but I thought I may want to go into cosmetology. That is why this was a great internship because it would help me make that decision as to whether or not this is what I wanted to do. After going through the whole internship, I am completely sure this is what I want to do with my life. It is perfect for me and I am so ready to start. I am graduating from high school in December and starting cosmetology at The Aveda Institute in Chapel Hill, in January. It is a ten to eleven month program and from there I have been offered to keep working at The Hair and Face Lounge after I graduate, which I plan to do. As for my life goal, I am going to move to the beach and open up my own salon one day. Not too soon though because a big part of this job is clientele so moving right away would not be a wise decision. Plus, while I am first learning, I know that the girls I work with now will be perfect because they will be there to help me if I need it. A goal is just a dream if you do not have a process on how to get there. That is why I plan on working at The Hair and Face Lounge until I am really good at what I do. Then, I will move on to taking steps to opening up my own salon. But, plans always change so who really knows what is going to happen. All I know for sure, right now, is that I am taking my next steps in life and I am going to work to be the best I can be!

Entry #9

PROBLEMS?

Dates: 11/2/12 - 11/6/12
Reflection: I put a question mark in this heading because I really haven't experienced any problems or frustrations during this internship. If I did have to narrow it down to something though, it would probably be learning how to blow dry and shampoo other people's hair for the first time. My problem with blow drying was that it was hard to grab the hair with the brush and maneuver the blow dryer the correct way to make it all flow well. With shampooing, I still have a little bit of a problem when it comes to all over colors and getting all of the color off the back of a guests neck when they are in the shampoo bowl. I am catching on more and more everyday and I know I will have it down soon! With the blow drying, I pretty much have that all the way down now there is no problem their. The way I handled these situations was to just put my mind to it and keep trying. It all comes with practice and now I am really good at it! As for the computer aspect of things, the only time I felt that I ran into a problem was with opening certain documents on our work computer because all of the programs on their were not updated. But, of course, after working at it for a little while I figured out how to get around it. Learning and get accustomed to the SalonBiz program took a bit of time but after time that came easily too. What I have learned from all of this is that if you just keep working at something you can do anything. You just really have to be motivated to keep trying. When it comes to something you really feel like you can't do, just ask! There will always be someone that can help you in some way.

Entry #8

CAREER/COLLEGE PLANS

Dates: 10/30/12 - 11/1/12
Reflection: At the start of this internship, I was feeling a bit unsure of my career plans for the future. As I kept working, I began going to color and productivity classes with the other girls I work with, the girls started letting me practice certain things on them, I observed everyone working, and all of the girls would explain to me how to do everything in this line of work. Also, because everyone I work with is so great, it's easy for me to love coming to work. Honestly, I would wake up every day in the summer and be excited to go to work. Something is always going on and everyone is so much fun! I learn something new everyday.  I even know some of the slang terms for what hair dressers call certain things. After working here for all of these months I am most certain that this is what I want to do with my future. It is so much fun and I really think it is important to do something that you love with the rest of your life so your not dragging yourself out of bed everyday! I know I will love this and I have already been accepted to the Aveda Institute in Chapel Hill. I start my first day of school there on January 15th, 2013 and I am graduating early from high school. Some people tell me that I am rushing things, but this is what I want to do. I am done with the high school scene and I am ready to move on to the next chapter of my life.

Entry #7

SELF EVALUATION

Dates: 10/16/12 - 10/20/12
Reflection: Through this internship I have learned some things about myself. I have never had a job before my internship so this was a whole new experience for me. Through this internship, dealing with many people, and taking on larger responsibilities, I have definitely matured. I took on this internship in particular because I thought I may want to be a cosmetologist some day but I wasn't sure yet. After working here for the past eight months, I have decided I want to be a cosmetologist and I know I am going to absolutely love it. Through working here I have learned so much about cosmetology. I went to a productivity class with the other girls just last weekend and I got to learn all the tips and tricks for our skin care line. A few months ago I also took a color class with the girls and I actually learned a lot about how color formulations work. I am so excited to go to school I feel like from working here I have already gotten a head start. I am going to know how to do so much more than other girls that are just starting school with me. This is something that I am passionate about so I know I am going to succeed.

Entry #6

THE DUTIES

Dates: 10/2/12 - 10/6/12
Reflection:  My duties at my internship have changed slightly since I started working at The Hair and Face Lounge. For the most part things are the same because most of my duties are just cleaning up and working on the computer. The things that have changed are nice though because they are all things I like doing. I now have a key to the salon so I opened and closed all summer but now that school has started up I only close every night except on Saturdays. This was an exciting new task to take on because I felt like I had more responsibilities and that I was trusted more. The other major thing that changed was that I am now able to shampoo guests and just recently I can help out with blow drying and styling some of the guests. I really enjoy doing these things so this was an exciting upgrade in responsibility for me. Before I got to do this on the guests, all of the girls at the lounge let me practice on them a lot. I am really glad I have been given the  this internship opportunity because I feel like when I get to cosmetology school I will be ahead of everyone else. I can't wait to start school!

Entry #5

MY CONTRIBUTION

Dates: 9/4/12 - 9/8/12

Reflection: I feel that my biggest contribution to The Hair and Face Lounge is keeping everything organized and running smoothly. I make sure that all the towels, products, hair, and anything else laying around is picked up after an appointment. This way the stylist can quickly move on to the next guest without having to stop to pick up after themselves. I make sure the salon is always tidy and neat for the guests to have a greater experience. I make confirmation calls and keep all of the documents and appointment times organized for no complications. My favorite contribution to the job is shampooing and blow drying. It just gives me such a satisfaction to clean and style someones hair. I love it! The thing I am most proud of doing at my internship would have to be helping out with the fall fashion show, Cocktails and Couture. There were about twenty girls in the fashion show and we did the hair and make up on about eight of the girls. I got to help out and do some of the hair and make up on the girls and I felt so professional like I was already in the fashion industry. It really helped confirm about wanting to do this in the future. I love the fast pace and everything else about it. I just really love being in an environment where we just make people feel better about themselves.

Entry #4

MY EXPECTATIONS

Dates: 5/15/12 - 5/19/12
Reflection: This internship is nothing like I would have expected it to be. I thought I would have got an internship that was just programming or making a computer which, honestly, I would not have enjoyed at all. At my internship at The Hair and Face Lounge, we get to interact with lots of different people. I enjoy doing all of the girly things, like hair and make up, with other girls and spending my time talking and interacting with other people all day. This is definitely something I want to do in the future. I have been accepted to the Aveda Institute in Chapel Hill and I will be going for my Cosmetology license in January. Even though this internship may not have met my expectations as to how I thought this internships work would be, it most definitely meets my expectations with how great of an experience I am having. Working here is confirming that I want to do this as my future occupation.