Christine Rivera’s Positive Attitude is Contagious
Christine Rivera is like many students at Salon Success Academy: she wants to make a better life for herself and her family. And, she believes pursuing a career in cosmetology will help her accomplish that. Christine brings a positive attitude unlike any other to the Salon Success community and the Redlands campus.
Originally from Mira Loma, California, Christine moved to San Bernardino in January 2015 due to health problems. She was determined not to let it slow her down. After some time in the hospital, she came out stronger than ever. But Christine has always been a fighter. She grew up in foster care, had children at a young age, and has overcome more than a few obstacles in her life.
In June 2015, she decided to take on one more challenge. Christine enrolled in the cosmetology program at Salon Success Academy. She wanted a career and to show her children, now ages 11 and 8, that they can do and achieve anything they want. Despite everything she was dealing with, she decided to enroll full time. She couldn’t have done it without the support of her family who helped care for her children while she was in school.
Christine said the first 450 hours were challenging as she tried to absorb all the information. But, she quickly learned that those fundamentals built the foundation of her entire education. When she moved on to Sassoon and hands-on practice, she was able to spread her wings and explore her creativity for the first time in her life. The real world salon experience was Christine’s favorite part of the program. She says she’s a people person and finds it rewarding to work and talk with actual clients. Most of all, she says it’s satisfying to know she’s creating opportunities for her children’s future.
All of Christine’s hard work led to an emotional graduation day on May 7, 2016. She had formed strong bonds with students and staff and says she couldn’t have done it without their support. Her last clock out was the most fulfilling moment she’s had in her life. All the hard work and sacrifices she and her family endured made it all worth it. Pursuing an education and dreams of a new career gave her a new perspective on life, one that her children could be proud of. And, Christine says that if one day they too want to pursue a career in the industry or any other career path, she’ll be there to support them.
During her first year as a licensed cosmetologist, Christine wants to listen and learn all that she can. Someday, she hopes to earn her barbering license and open her own business. She was inspired by the Barristar barbering battle which made her want to hone her craft even more.
Christine’s positive attitude is infectious. She’s always willing to engage with others and share her inspiring story with staff and students. Do you want to turn your life around, too? You can at Salon Success Academy. You can even gain a diverse skillset when you get started on the path from cosmetology to barbering.
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