My First Job

>>"My first job was inspired by my eldest sister, Jeanette. She was a cosmetologist. I remember going with her to work, where she'd let me sit in the chair and do all sorts of neat things. So when the time came to decide what I wanted to do, cosmetology was it. I went to Jane Addams High School in Cleveland, which was a business/career high school. You had to have a certain GPA to get in and you took the classes like in regular high school, but when you got to be a junior, you chose a career path. So in my junior and senior years, I took classes on cutting and styling hair, while working at it as well.

"After high school I went to work for a group out of New York that owned hair salons inside Cleveland's Higbee's department stores. That was where you wanted to be, because all the ladies would shop and then come to get their hair done. We'd do shampoos and cuts for $4. You can't get anything for that now. I was able to go to New York to learn all of the newest styles and techniques, which was great.

"After two years there, they moved me to a salon in the suburbs of Cleveland as a manager. The salon had fallen off a bit, and my mission was to make it successful again. I recruited new clients, hired better cosmetologists, even began doing fashion shows. It was a lot of fun. I was only making about $125 a week, though, and the company didn't want to pay me any more, so after six years, I left the business.

"That job taught me about leading different types of people and managing their personalities. I also learned about communicating with clients and listening to their needs. It really prepared me for where I am today."

-Lauren Bernaldo