Shiyann P.

Before enrolling, I spent a little time in college but realized I wasn't quite ready to commit to a traditional four-year path. After taking a gap year, I decided to pursue something I had always been passionate about: skincare. Esthetics felt like the perfect fit because it was a quick, hands-on program that I could complete in just six months. My long-term goal is to finish my bachelor's degree in marketing and eventually work for a skincare company, combining both my passion for beauty and business.

I was looking for a program that would allow me to start my career quickly while giving me the skills I needed to get into the industry. Dallas Collective Academy offered a short, esthetics program that let me get started in the field quickly.

The payment plan made it much easier to manage the cost of school. I wanted to start paying for my education while I was still enrolled, so I wouldn't be left with a large balance after graduating. Throughout the process, everyone I worked with was incredibly kind and flexible. If I ever needed to adjust a payment date by a few days, they were always willing to work with me, which took a lot of stress out of the experience.

The biggest challenge was only being able to work part-time while I was in school, but knowing the program was only six months long helped keep me grounded. I knew that this was temporary. I was also fortunate to have a strong support system from my family, which made balancing everything more manageable.

While I was still in school, I worked at the front desk of a med spa, which helped me build connections and gain industry experience. That opportunity opened the door to beginning my esthetician role after graduation, allowing me to start working at that spa as soon as I graduated.

Although my base hourly wage is lower than working the front desk, commissions and tips help make up the difference. More importantly, I'm now working in my career and gaining experience that will help me grow professionally. Before school, I earned close to $20 an hour in base pay. As an esthetician, my base is around half of that, but with commissions and tips my overall take-home lands near $35 an hour. I look forward to continuing to build my career in skincare and expanding my opportunities.