Opening doors to a new reality…

I struggled to finish high school. Dropped math 1st semester of senior year, barley passed my other courses, and was coping with life at home.

I felt numb. I wasn’t college bound, I hated school, and I was ready to escape my reality. I told myself “I’m never going to college!”

I took a gap year to travel and save money for whatever was next. I wanted to leave and “find myself” before making my next big future decision. 

All through high school I worked at a local spa. I was introduced to the beauty industry at 15 and fell in love. The community, the way it made people felt, and how the variables were never the same. 

At 20 I invested in myself and enrolled in Santa Barbara College of Cosmetology. There is where I fell in love with the art of hair.

In beauty school my mindset shifted. I saw that I was SMART. I just learn differently and when my education was clearly applicable I retained the information quickly. 

My passion for hair pushed me to get a entrepreneurship certificate from SBCC so I could learn the basics of business and stay in the growth mindset.  

I was in college full time and worked behind the chair with amazing mentors all around me. I was in a salon that wanted to see me grow and pushed me while letting me make mistakes. 

I left that salon 1 year later and took a leap of faith that rocked my world. I left Santa Barbara and headed for the Midwest to be back with family. In my 1 year I had learned so much but felt in my gut my time was over in my beautiful coastal city. I left my amazing job, home blocks from the beach, boyfriend, and beautiful community that I had built over the past 3 years. People thought I was crazy...I kinda felt like it too. But, as hard as that was I felt peace in my decision. 

I spent a year in Nebraska and took a break from being behind the chair. Like whattt??? My license didn’t transfer to my state and leaving Santa Barbara hurt. I made amazing relationships in the salon and knowing this move was temporary I was not ready to put my heart through that again. 

So I worked full time in the medical field learning/experiencing the backend operations of a small business. I missed doing hair. A lot. 

After some thought I invested in my hair education through Lo Wheelers “Luxury Hairstylist” program. This was another leap of faith for me. I had struggled with the fear of financial scarcity so investing any sort of money in myself was SCARY. I had wanted to do this program for a year but didn’t pull the trigger. I was shaking as I entered my card information.  This was in November 2019 and started I started the program January 2020. 

Luxe rocked my world. Reframed my mindset, built confidence, broadened my communication skills, taught media branding and the list goes on. 

I also knew after 1 month of the program I was going to work with Lo Wheeler and her team. Fast forward to July 2020 when I got the job virtually with Wheeler Davis Salon. This allowed me to move back to California and start a new chapter of growth. 

Once in the salon I got rocked again. One thing you should know about me is I love to be critiqued. It fuels me! The program came to life and I got was forced to put it into action. 

I was surrounded by like minded co workers who pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and showcase myself. 

Following my gut, investing in education, surrounding myself with growth mindset people, letting go of relationships, meeting my personal goals, and always being open to constructive criticism has gotten me where I am at today. 

I went from budgeting my groceries to $30 a trip and going out and not eating/drinking with friends in Santa Barbara to being on track to earn 6 figures only 3 years out of beauty school (with one of those years without doing hair). 

My little lost 18 year old self is smiling right now. Knowing that the 25 year old Rebekah is living in her passion with a balanced lifestyle. Can I get an amennn!!!

This story is already long and missing details. But, if it can help 1 person to trust themselves to take that leap I would be over the moon. It gets better. Also, to NEVER SAY NEVER. I went to college. It wasn’t for the full 4 years, but the classes opened my eyes and mind to bigger dreams and brought me confidence. 

We all have obstacles! We are our biggest one. I felt like I was failing when I stopped doing hair for that year. I wasn’t doing my passion and unsure of my next step. That low brought me here today. Who knows where I will be next year? The relationships I will make? The growth I will see? How exciting is that? No matter where you are…trusting in yourself and dumping the lame excuses opens doors to a new reality. I am ready…are you?