NYIB: Hello Ms Erica! Thank you for joining me today. Tell us all a little bit about you 😊

Erica: Well, I am a very humble person. I get shy.  I am a nurse and I am in the army.  Currently I am in the Reserves, but I did many years active duty. I am also a mom, I have two teenage children- one is in college actually.

NYIB: Wow, so you are busy! What ended up drawing you into pursuing this field?

Erica: I knew I always wanted to do something in the beauty industry.  Definitely with makeup. I ended up leaning towards esthetics because I like the skin care, knowing how to prep the skin before makeup. Sorry, I am kind of nervous haha.

NYIB: Don’t be nervous! Just tell me your journey, it’s okay!

Erica; It just, it took me a long time to get here. Having children, having to provide for them, that took priority.

NYIB: Completely understandable, and admirable. Tell me a little more about what you were doing before you decided to come to Esthetics school here?

Erica: Before I got married, I was a single parent, so I enlisted in the military because I was young and needed to take care of them. I did my years full time on active duty, and deployed 3 times. I have been to Kuwait, Iraq. My first time being called up was actually right after 9/11. I was young and nervous, obviously afraid, but I did what I had to do. I also knew I wanted to also pursue a medical career, so I enrolled at Columbus Tech which is in Georgia where I am originally from.  I did the surgical technology program, and got my Associates. Shortly after I finished that, I got called up again to deploy. After I returned home that time, I decided “Why not go all the way and get into nursing?’  But, with all of my deployments, and taking care of my kids, I ended up getting my LPN license instead. That was 2009.

NYIB: You have led an incredibly busy life!

Erica: I am not one of those people to just sit around. I decide I want to do something, I do it.

NYIB: I like that drive! So, after getting your LPN license, what were you doing?

Erica: I ended up getting into occupational therapy. But over time I deviated and got more into behavioral health, which I liked. I like interacting with people, from all different facets. I am a people person, I enjoy talking to them, and seeing the different aspects of people. With the behavioral therapy, I worked a lot with a lot of fellow military with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and soldiers battling addictions.

NYIB: That is one incredible journey! I love all the turns and growth. Sometimes I ask people what they have been doing before school and I get a lot of nothing! So, this is amazing.

Erica: Haha yea I did a lot. Now that I am in NY I work with pediatric children, special needs children in UCP schools. Been doing now the last 3 years that I have been up here.  And yea basically that’s it.

NYIB: I love how you say, “That’s it” as if you haven’t led an incredible ambitious busy life!

NYIB: So, with everything you have already accomplished, what do you hope to do after you graduate from here?

Erica: Ultimately, I want to own my own day spa. I want to go into business for myself. I feel like I have contributed a lot of my personal life and energy to other people, to their issues, and now that I am little older, I want to do something for me. Most of my life I have been taking care of people, my kids, other peoples kids haha. Sometimes adult kids.

NYIB: I love that you still have more aspirations.

Erica: Yea I am not done. Not by a long shot. This is a growing industry, there are a lot of opportunities for different facets of people.

NYIB: I know you drive a bit every day to come to school. What made you choose New York Institute of Beauty for your program instead of a school maybe a little closer to you?

Erica: I did my research.  I am one of those people that does a ton of research, so I looked at all different schools. There are schools that are closer to me, but by far I feel like this school stands out the best.  From the curriculum, the reviews, to talking to other students who came here. Word of mouth, you know? It’s big. I like to hear from others their experience.

NYIB: Reviews are everything! We tell the students that personal reviews are worth their weight in gold. People will almost always take that more seriously than a flashy website or advertisement, you know?

Erica: Agreed.

NYIB: Okay, Ms Erica, you have been here a few months now. Anything particularly interesting that you have found since coming here?

Erica: The curriculum has been a little challenging. Not that I am totally surprised by that, it’s partly why I chose here, but as a person who came from the medical field- I still have to study!  This is not something you can just wing. That has made me even more confident that I am in the right place.  I like that I am being challenged.

NYIB: See I love hearing that! I think something people have the misconception that “beauty” school is easy, and I know it’s not! And here at NYIB we are definitely looking to change that perception. It is not that easy! It is hard work, but it is worth it!

Erica: Yes. I also enjoy the staff. They make you feel comfortable. I know sometimes it may not seem like it, but I can get a little nervous, a little shy. But everyone here is good at keeping you comfortable and instilling confidence in the students. They let us know, “Hey-you got this!”

NYIB: I am thrilled to hear that. I know we take pride in encouraging our students to do really well and be confident and proud of themselves!

NYIB: We touched a bit on your goal of owning your own business, do you plan on staying in NY long term? Or do you have intentions to go back to Georgia?

Erica: Yes, I want to move back home. To Atlanta. My family already knows I am in school and they are ready for me.  I have some offers to open a spa down there. They’re willing to invest in me as long as I do what I have to do on my end.

NYIB: Uh, I would not at all be worried about that. I think you have shown a track record for just incredible work ethic! So, no New York and our blistering cold winters?

Erica:  Hah, I mean I plan to stay for a couple years. Build experience, get my feet wet.  But then yea, no I am going back south.

NYIB: I do not blame you!  Last but certainly not least, any words of advice or encouragement for someone reading this?

Erica: I would say, stay the course and do you. Live your life. I feel like everyone has to live what inside them. Live your dream.

NYIB: Ooh, live your dream. I may have to steal that in the future! Haha. Thank you so much again Erica for taking time out of your day to talk with me. I am looking forward to seeing you continue to thrive here and in life.

Interviewed and written by Megan Leitch, L.E., NYIB Admissions Representative