by Stu Rhodes –
Sene Underwood could easily be a poster child for the Saanich practice and philosophy of trying to provide our students with a “value added grad.” Though high school graduation occured at the end of June, Sene had already successfully graduated from the year-long Hairstylist training program offered out of our own Studio 63 teaching salon. “This program was absolutely amazing! It prepared me to have a career before I even left high school,” offered Sene.
She entered the program part-way through grade 11 and finished up by the midway mark of her grade 12 year. During the second semester of grade 12 she wrapped up a couple of academic courses at Saanichton Individual Learning Centre, participated in a Recreation Management course at Stelly’s Secondary, and held down a part-time position at Studio A where she is currently logging hours for her Hairstylist Apprenticeship. Salon owner Abby Lopez is no stranger to the Saanich Hairstylist program. Sene is the fourth student she has hired from the program. Abby is thrilled with Sene: “Sene is amazing! She is very precise and clearly cares about her clients.” She went on to say: “She is a fast learner and is really showing huge gains in her confidence and people skills.”
Abby was not the only one to notice Sene’s boost in confidence and abilities. Her mother, Lillian, was thoroughly impressed with the maturity and focus Sene started to display once she started the program. “Sene had perfect attendance for the entire program. She took total ownership and even set time aside for studying out of class. We are very proud of her accomplishments and so happy she found something she loves,” said Lillian. “We are also very grateful for the mentorship from the program instructor, Anastasia Antoiadis as well as support from the ILC career teacher Heidi Hackman.” Heidi was instrumental in helping to set up the work experience placement at Salon A.
A big highlight for Sene was when Abby Lopez offered Sene her own chair in Salon A. This is like a right of passage for fledgling stylists and affords them the opportunity to really start building their clientele. Sene has a few regulars now and helps service the walk-in clients. She admitted it wasn’t easy in the beginning and even recounted how it took her over three hours to do her first big hair cut! “Now I can pump out that same hair cut, including shampooing, styling, and blow drying, in under an hour.” Never has the saying “practice makes perfect” been truer!
Sene is overjoyed knowing she is leaving high school with “… a career I can choose for ever, or leave for a while to explore something else. I have a way to support myself. Even if I pursue some other training or education, I will always have these skills.”
Contact Stu Rhodes at 250-415-9211 for more information on how to get involved as a student apprentice, or as an employer sponsor in this, or any other career program in Saanich School District.
