Alexandra Thibodeau: From College to Cosmetology

With dreams of becoming a translator for the United States government, Alexandra Thibodeau left for college, on a journey she never thought would end up where she is today.

“I studied Linguistics at Temple University. It’s the science of languages. I was studying that along with French and Arabic when I decided traditional college wasn’t for me.”

Alexandra says while she enjoyed what she was studying, she quickly realized the field she was getting in to was missing something very important to her.

“I like to work with people and be creative.”

But unlike many cosmetology students, it wasn’t until she returned home that she found exactly where she fit in.

“When I moved home to York, I started working as a receptionist at a salon. I had no real intentions on making it a career at first.”

But after a while, she was hooked.

“The more I got to see how salons work and see what the stylists could do and interacting with clients and the relationships they have. The more I wanted to do this. The stylists at my job really encouraged me. My manager was so excited too.”

Alexandra says it was the stylists at her salon that suggested she attend Empire Beauty School.

“Most of my co workers are Empire graduates and they are really talented stylists.”

Alexandra says her time at Empire has been filled with more knowledge than she realized she would learn.

“I love that we have a student salon floor and I can be comfortable when I graduate working on real clients.”

She also says she has enjoyed learning the science behind beauty. She says that knowledge has translated into a better understanding of why certain techniques are used, which leads to a better outcome for her clients.

As for her career goals, Alexandra is keeping her options open for now. She is taking her journey one step at a time.

“I am going to assist my boss for a while and then start taking clients at the salon I work at now. I don’t know what happens from there, but I am excited for the future.”