Meet Melissa DeCanio
NYIB: Hello Melissa! Thank you for joining me today. Tell us a little about yourself.
Melissa: Well, I am 36 years old. I am a mother of one 7-year-old beautiful little girl. And I work at an accounting firm as a secretary for a very long time now.
NYIB: Oh, accounting! What made you decide to go from that field into the beauty industry?
Mellissa: Well, I had some major changes happen, and I needed to reevaluate my life. I needed to figure out what I enjoyed again. I have a cousin who graduated from NYIB not too long ago, and she and I were talking one day. She was telling me all about the school, and the program, and I instantly was just like “I need to do this.” It just clicked. I decided to look at the school and I told myself, “If everything goes smooth, then I know this is what I am supposed to be doing.” Here I am, so everything worked out.
NYIB: Anything that drew you to Esthetics versus other parts of the industry?
Melissa: Yes, one- I can’t do makeup for the life of me! But I love skin care. I had bad skin as a child and a teenager, I am still figuring out how to get my skin to be its best. I love learning about skin, treatments, how to make someone feel better.
NYIB: So, you mentioned that you work for an accounting firm for quite some time. What else were you doing before you started school here?
Melissa: Well, I was a stay at home mom for about 6 years, and I loved it. But once some of those changes happened I had to go back to work. I had worked for this accounting firm before I decided to stay home with my daughter, so when I had to go back to work I knew I wanted to go back to them specifically.
NYIB: I know you mentioned that your cousin graduated from here. Did you end up looking at other schools anyway?
Melissa: Yes, I did research online about different schools. I was shooting for NYIB because my cousin had such nice things to say about it, but I wanted to make sure I did still spend time looking at what other schools were out there. Once I looked over reviews, it was confirmed for me NYIB was the place to be.
NYIB: Were you nervous?
Melissa: Heck yes! I graduated high school in 1999. What scared me the most what when you told me I needed to bring in my high school diploma. I was like, oh man I haven’t seen that since 99. I wasn’t sure if I could find it. So, I said, “Okay this a test, a hump. If I am to do this I will find it.” And I happened to look in a storage drawer I have, and boom it was right there found it right away. But yes, I was nervous. It had been a long time since I did school.
NYIB: See- didn’t I tell you that it would be a whole bunch of different people here and you would not be the odd man out?
Melissa: Yes, you did, and there really are so many different students. Old, young, single, married, kids, no kids, pets, so many different backgrounds. And I have made such amazing friends here on top of that.
NYIB: Okay so you’ve been here now for a bit, hands have gotten real wet. What has been the most interesting thing you have learned during this journey?
Melissa: I love dealing with acne. It’s crazy but I love it. I love high frequency. I recently learned microdermabrasion here, which I am really enjoying. But I just love being able to look at someone’s skin and hopefully help them.
NYIB: Now you mentioned before that you struggled with your skin growing up. Do you find that having a personal background where you struggled with your own skin set you up to be a little more successful as an Esthetician?
Melissa: Yes, I mean I sure hope so. I have a lot of compassion, I know what I feels like. I have been there- not knowing what to do, what products to use, overusing stuff and making it worse. And now that I have been introduced to different techniques, like high frequency at NYIB, I am able to show them a different and more effective avenue. Have I mentioned yet that I LOVE high frequency? What a game changer!
NYIB: I know, I have one at home. It’s incredible!
NYIB: As you look towards the future, Melissa, what are your goals after you finish here and get licensed?
Melissa: I am going to keep the job I have now for a bit, because I have been there so long, and I do enjoy it as well. But I want to work in a day spa for a couple of years, get more experience. My ultimate goal is to become a mobile esthetician. I want to go to people’s home and provide services.
NYIB: Mobile Esthetics, I like it! What draws you to want to go mobile?
Melissa: I think it’s different. You can always just go to a spa, but sometimes people can’t get out for whatever reason, or they just don’t want to. So, for me to come and be able to do something for them in their own home is comforting and useful.
NYIB: Do you think that would have been something you would have enjoyed when you were a stay at home mom?
Melissa: Oh yeah! I couldn’t always leave my house, because maybe my daughter was napping, or I had no one to watch her, but I would have loved it if someone could have come and given me a good facial treatment at home. Even if it’s not super quiet, I wouldn’t have cared. If the esthetician doesn’t mind my kid might be running around, then I don’t care! I just want to feel good.
NYIB: I have to say- here on Long Island, we have so many people who could benefit from this. We have a very large population of elderly people, many of whom can’t really get out often. I could also see people with disabilities too really appreciating the service.
Melissa: Absolutely, there are a lot of people I think that could use it. I also know the mobile thing has always begun with hair and makeup, but I want to do more with skin. I know it’s sort of there, but I just want to grow it.
NYIB: You are completely right! It’s a market we have begun to tap into, but is still so new and has so much potential!
NYIB: Any advice or words of encouragement for someone out there who may just as nervous as you were to come to school here?
Melissa: I doubted myself from the very beginning. But I just put myself out there and said, “If it’s going to happen, it will work out. There may be bumps, but they will be minor if this is what I am supposed to do.” My schedule worked out, finances worked out, it all just fell into place. And I love it. So really think about who you are as a person and what you like. If this is something you enjoy don’t give up just because it’s scary. Just do it.
NYIB: I want to thank Melissa for her time. I can’t wait to someday have her give me a luxurious facial treatment in my own house so I don’t have to get out of my pajamas!
Interviewed and written by Megan Leitch, L.E., NYIB Admissions Representative.
