Brooklyn Cole is starting her senior year at Liberty Tech High School.
She’s also officially starting her own business.
After earning her hair braider’s license as part of the cosmetology program at Liberty this past winter, she’s been putting that license to use helping a few customers.
But she’s moving her business out of her mother’s home as she celebrated opening up her own official business as part of the Royal Exhibit Hair Salon on Royal Street in Downtown Jackson.
“I know I’m going to be busy, but this is something I wanted to do for a long time, and something I need to do if I’m going to do it,” said Cole, who’s not only a student at Liberty but is also on the cheerleading squad. “But being busy is a good thing. Hopefully I’ll be busy with this.”
Cole has been a cosmetology student of Lucchiaa Anderson since both were at Fayette-Ware High School.
Anderson made the move to Liberty two years ago and has been growing the cosmetology program.
With Cole being a four-year student of the program, Anderson said efforts like this are part of the progression of the education at Liberty.
“The last year is more about learning the business and learning how to be a professional once they’ve learned the skills in the earlier years and then got some hands-on experience in their junior year,” Anderson said. “And she’s definitely a student that can handle the load of finishing up high school and doing everything else she does at school and then taking this on too.”
Cole’s education in cosmetology is an example of what Jackson-Madison County Schools tries to do with various trade education initiatives throughout the district.
Cole is glad Liberty offers this one.
“I’m able to learn braiding and other skills in cosmetology that I’m able to work as a professional even before I graduate,” Cole said. “I’m grateful for the education and the opportunity.”
Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news
