(I realized I misspelled 'School" in the title) -_-
So I started cosmetology a couple months ago, I went in because I want to be a Makeup Artist. I don't really have an interest in doing hair, at all. Hair cutting and hairstyling frustrates me. Coloring isn't too bad, but I don't care too much about it. I thought I would go in (mostly for learning more about makeup) and see if I caught an interest in anything else along the way.

So we have done basic Manicures, pedicures, haircuts, acrylic nails, etc. I'm not really interested in it. Unfortunately, I hafta learn to do all this stuff to pass the state board exam. I would be extremely disappointed and unhappy if I wound up working at a salon trimming hair and rubbing feet for the majority of my work. bleh!

I was talking to my instructor and she informed me that they really only go over makeup in the most basic way. This is very discouraging. I asked her what I could do about it. she said that the school offers Advanced Education Classes and that I should take every opportunity to take on whatever they offer in Makeup i.e. airbrush makeup classes, Runway makeup, special FX makeup, etc. She informed me that in cosmetology school, makeup isn't a big thing they go over and that the only way to really build a portfolio and get any experience with it is to take these classes. Then when I graduate, it would help me get out into that field.
I had actually brought up this concern to the Admissions person when I was considering registering for school. She had told me the same thing, that the Advanced Ed. classes would really help me out to that end.

Unfortunately, my school is probably going to stop participating in those Advanced education classes. We will have a meeting this week about it and I am very worried. I think it's because not enough people sign up and the classes always drop for lack of attendees. I'm not sure exactly why, but that's what I think. I have only been told that the owners of the school are not going to participate in the program anymore.
So, if I can't get my foot in the door for the one aspect of cosmetology that I want, is it worth my time to stay in school? I don't think I will be learning much about makeup that I don't already know. Of my own accord, I have reviewed the tiny portion of our textbook that covers makeup, and it's pretty basic.
I wish that makeup could have been a stand alone specialization, like Nail Technician, or Aesthetician. You can take classes and get certified for just those aspects, but not for makeup.
I am seriously thinking of quitting if they drop this aspect of my education. But if I do, I really don't know what I can do to pick that back up... or what else I can do if I just abandon it altogether. Sometimes I think that I have an interest in a field that is too obscure. There are really only two cosmetology schools in the city in which I live. I'm still awaiting some pending info that I requested from the other school... but I don't think they participated in those programs to begin with. Moving isn't in the cards, and I don't want to go to another city on my own. I know I wouldn't be able to handle it, much less afford it. I currently live with two friends/roommates and if it weren't for them I wouldn't eat on most days.

is their anything else you are interested in?. (less obscure)

if it comes to it, maybe you're just going to have to change courses if they are not offering the type of speciality you are looking for

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

is their anything else you are interested in?. (less obscure)

If it comes to it, maybe you're just going to have to change courses if they are not offering the type of specialty you are looking for

Well, it's just a cosmetology school. That's all they do there. It's not a university or anything. So if I drop it, I wouldn't 'change courses'. I'd hafta go and figure out what I wanted to do instead and try and enroll at another school.

I like to paint and sew... but I don't really see any kind of career coming out of that. I like dancing too. I looked into going to college for Dance as well as for Fashion Design. Unfortunately, the schooling is waaaaay too long. I don't want to be in school for four or six (or more) years. I don't want anything that requires a bachelors. I can't handle that much schooling. Not only that, but I don't want to have to take all those prerequisite courses that I'm never going to use. It actually took me a very, very long time to decide on this current endeavor. I had tried going to school for other stuff in the past, but I wound up not liking the reality of the field once I had graduated.

I went to a career counselor once (before I decided on the cosmetology thing) and I explained to them my predicament.I didn't know what I wanted to do. So they suggested that I list all the things I didn't want to do, and then see what was left that I might be interested in...

• I'm very artsy, and I like creatively inclined fields, but I do not want to teach it. No teaching or instructor jobs.
• I don't want to do anything that has to do with a lot of math. I hate math.
• I don't like computers (online chatting is the extent of computer usage), and I don't want anything that will put me in an office setting.
• I don't like electronics or wiring or anything to do with that stuff.
• Plants and animals are boring to me. I don't want to do anything agricultural.
• I don't want to work in anything healthcare related or otherwise dealing with sick or old people. No nursing stuff
• I don't want a job that will have me working outside or driving around. I hate being outside unless it's after dark.
• I don't want to manage people or really have to work with other people. I prefer to work alone.
• I'm not into sports, at all. I hate sports. No athletic type stuff.
• Nothing legal or government affiliated. I don't do well with bureaucracy.
• And most importantly (and it automatically knocks out most of the above) nothing that requires more than two years of school.

I'd like for you to keep in mind that I'm not necessarily aiming to make a ton of money. I want a career field that I am happy doing, and that I can freely express myself. I don't value money as much as I do creative expression.

I feel like I might be going 'back to the drawing board', so to speak. I'm going to be 30 this year. I need to figure out wtf to do with myself already. I don't want to be 40 or 50 and still not have any kind of career path.

[pinkbutterfly]

so you have listed all the stuff you do NOT like or want to do...what do you ENJOY. What do you like?

Even think about things that even if it's not your favorite thing in the world, you would be ok with doing. Sometimes our career isn't the most fulfilling aspect of our lives. Maybe you have a 9-5 job somewhere, but then you help at a theater with costume design and make up as something to help fulfill those things on a volunteer basis?

it sounds like you have really thought through reasons for quitting school, and you have some valid reasons and concerns.

You say that your aim is not to make a ton of money. You want to be fulfilled and be creative. One thing I have learned is that no career can completely meet all of our needs - there are other aspects of our lives that we work to fulfill those areas. For me, I am going into counseling (working on my Master's right now). But I have a passion also for music - singing and writing music. I realize that I am not going to have a career in that, but I can write music, practice, and even sing at church and get involved in music in other aspects of my life.

Just some thoughts...

let's see... the things I enjoy... I used to like to paint and draw, but it was just a hobby. I couldn't do it for a living, it would kill my inspiration. And i really don't do it much anymore. I also used to write alot, but it has gone the same way as my painting.
I like to dance. I help my friend with her dance team. I probably do more to help her with it than the girls she has in it. What's ironic about it, is that I actually don't like the music much and I definitely don't like the social scene affiliated with the dancing she does... but I DO like the Dancing. It's not ballroom or swing or anything regimented like that. It's very freestyle and nightclub oriented.
Um, I like to sew outfits for her and her girls. Make up crazy get ups for them to wear when they perform. It's not cost effective though. But it's guaranteed to be original and one of a kind...err, well one of a kind for the whole team. I do it more to be close to my friend though. I wouldn't really want to be doing this for anyone else.

...and, honestly, aside from going to school, there isn't a whole lot else that I really do. I used to drink and party a lot. Now that I put that behind me, I really don't have a lot on my agenda.