Overall, 2021 was a remarkable year for me. I was able to graduate from New England Hair Academy with my barbering license at the beginning of the year and I moved back to the island. I spent this past summer (& third season) working at Panache Salon and built my clientele tremendously with my additional license. It feels really great to be able to help all sorts of people and to greatly increase my client pool. I have been able to refine my barbering and coloring techniques by taking several classes throughout the year in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Boston. Taking these intensive workshops has only deepened my passion for my industry. I plan to use my remaining funds to take a class in textured hair, as well as business oriented workshops that’ll help prepare me to open up my own island salon within the next few years.

Other than my educational advances, I have also been able to volunteer a good portion of my time doing house calls and private appointments for immunocompromised clients and elderly folks who are in need of hair help. It has been a very rewarding experience and a silver lining of this pandemic. I hope to incorporate more of these activities into my schedule in the new year. I would like to sincerely and genuinely thank MVYouth, all the donors, and board members who have made opportunities like these available to me by means of the Workforce Development Scholarship. I can’t wait to give back more of my services, skills, knowledge, and trade to our beloved island. All in all, everything I've been able to accomplish since graduating has molded me into an incredibly driven and passionate professional who is optimistically looking forward to my future as an individual member and asset to the island community.