If the Rock Star thing doesn't work out...

Everybody has dreams! Country music star Alan Jackson wanted to be an entertainer while working at K-Mart. Singer Bette Midler dreamed of a musical career while working as a librarian. Both of these stars had their dreams come true and today, are known throughout the world. However, for every Alan Jackson, there are 1,000 others who do not make it.

Some have dreams with lower profiles such as being a doctor or owning their own company. What are students going to do before they hit the big lights? Have your heard of the moving company called Starving Artists?

One CTC student dreamed of owning her own chain of beauty salons. She realized that dreams required a great deal of education, planning and training:

1. She took a challenging academic schedule at her home high school and graduated among the top 10 students in her class.

2. She enrolled in Cosmetology at CTC saving over $10,000 tuition required in the private sector.

3. She participated in the SkillsUSA Contests, which sharpened her curriculum knowledge and communication skills.

4. She was accepted at several college institutions (U.VA, VCU) before accepting a partial scholarship to attend the University of Richmond.

5. While attending college, she worked part-time as a cosmetologist to help supplement her college scholarships.

6. Upon graduation, she accepted a job working for E. I. Dupont, one of the leading corporations in America.

Did she lose her dream? She thinks her experience working for a major corporation will combine with her knowledge of cosmetology to provide a solid background for owning and managing her own chain of beauty salons. But if it doesn’t work out, she is still working for one of the best corporations in America. And have your ever heard of a business called Starving Cosmetologists?

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