DEFINING HER STYLE
How a Cosmetology graduate built her business f rom the roots up.
Becoming a business owner — and running her own salon studio — was not always on Marlee Wharton’s radar. However, as someone committed to developing her passions, Marlee found great success in her professional pursuits after graduating from the CVCC Cosmetology program. Her story begins a few years ago, when she worked 9-5 hours at a local restaurant to support her son while he attended Pre-K. She did her best to work during the day, so that when evening rolled around, she could stay home and be there for her son. It was a job that she enjoyed, because it allowed her to serve others, to meet new people in the community, and to continue showing support for her family. As she got to know her customers better, she would engage in longer conversations with some of the “regulars”, who occasionally asked Marlee what plans she had for the future. One day, the question caught her off-guard. She wasn’t certain of her plans, but she knew what she didn’t want to do—go to school during the day, work during the night, and miss spending time with her son. These customers had a connection with CVCC, and they encouraged Marlee to explore the college’s degree programs. This meant Marlee had to decide which path she wanted to take. While she did think Photos provided by High Noon.
20
FA LL 20 23
a counseling degree would be a good
