Yareni Flores is a junior. This is her first year participating in the cosmetology program offered here. Flores chose to join because for as long as she can remember she has always enjoyed doing hair and nails. She also likes the fact that this career is always changing and presenting new opportunities for her as a person to express her creativity through her work. Another pull that this career has is that when pursuing this path a person is able to quickly start their career. Throughout the program, Flores has enjoyed meeting and learning with new people.

“I really enjoy cosmetology because it gives me an opportunity to meet and interact with new people alongside the alteration of their physical appearance.” She also describes the bonds with her classmates as being unique and special because of their unique learning environment. They go somewhere completely different from the everyday classroom to learn about something that they really enjoy as a group. Flores also describes the bond with her classmates as being special to her because they encourage each other, share laughs together, and learn cosmetology hands-on together.