Life @ 17

This month we spoke to a young woman whose family has lived in the community for generations.

While most of this teenager’s peers are still in high school, she will be starting her second year of an apprenticeship program to become a certified hair stylist in January.

She had considered other career paths before heading to Oshawa for her training.  At one point she was keen to become a criminal defense lawyer.  During Covid she spent hours sifting through true crime stories.  Many described situations where critical evidence was ignored or dismissed resulting in wrongful convictions.  She thought she could do better.  Money was a key consideration in her career decision.  Becoming a lawyer would have required many years of university during which she would accumulate a significant level of student debt.  This was not appealing to this pragmatic teen.

There is also a family business to consider.  She contemplated continuing the legacy of her family in the trades: the business was well established and she would certainly be a welcome addition.  A part-time job in a salon convinced her that she was more suited to styling hair, and she soon found a way to fast-track her new career of choice.

The Ontario Youth Apprentice Program opened the door, offering a combination of academic and hands-on training through a co-op with a minimal financial commitment.  It also meant that she would be well launched in her career when her peers were just graduating from high school.

She has always been a high-energy person, but was surprised at the intensity of the course work and the stringent tests in her program.  In addition to her scheduled classes, she had part-time jobs in a salon and a small restaurant.  The pressure of her schedule created conflict with some of her high school friends who felt slighted by her lack of availability for socializing.  They thought they deserved more of her time.  A few actively support her, helping with some of her assignments.

She enjoys working with the public, whether she is serving at a restaurant or styling hair.  In the salon, she appreciates customers who give her free rein.  Most arrive with very clear ideas about the look they want to achieve, equipped with photos for illustration. While she appreciates a challenge, she acknowledges the limitations of hair styling techniques and is careful to explain to her customers what is and isn’t possible.

Recent experience with social media has turned her off.  She doesn’t like what she sees there.   Unlike many of her peers, she doesn’t understand the obsession with phones, and finds it puzzling to see groups of people ignoring the people they are with so they can concentrate on what’s happening on their phones.  She prefers to keep it real.

She does not resist her traditional upbringing and enjoys living with her extended family.  It is a good situation both personally and financially.  This semester she has found paid work in a supportive environment as an apprentice where she is encouraged to develop her skills and possibly a clientele of her own.  At 17, she acknowledges that she may still decide to pursue a career in law in the future, but if she goes in that direction, she will begin with a sound financial base.  For now she has a plan that is working.  KG

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