Julie Dawson

When I was 13 I bought my first Claire’s makeup pallet from a Williamsport, Pennsylvania mall. I was so excited to try all the gorgeous colors. As soon as my family arrived to my grandparents’ house I rushed to the bathroom and swiped my eyelids with every color in the pallet. In that moment I felt beautiful and grown up. From that day on, my love for all things beauty, blossomed. My eyeshadow looks went from just one color swiped on my eyelids, to beautiful smoky eyes, the cleanest cut creases, and the sharpest winged eyeliner. Anytime my friends would come to my house, we would have “makeovers” where I would do their hair, makeup, and nails. My favorite part was when I would turn my friends around and they could look in the mirror and see how different they looked. Their astonishment and excitement was my drive. Knowing they felt beautiful made me happy. Knowing that I could make someone feel confident and happy just by simply adding some lipstick or styling their hair is what pushed me to enroll in Imagine Paul Mitchell’s cosmetology program. Being enrolled in the cosmetology program was an amazing learning experience. Not only did I learn how to do hair, nails, and makeup, but I also learned how to handle situations that may present themselves in a salon. Most importantly, I learned the significance of being committed to and finishing all the things I have started.