Since this is Black History month, I would like to personally highlight a person who has made a major difference in my life and my career path. No, this person is not famous, nor this person have all the bells and whistles that come with being in the beauty industry. This person does not have a Nobel Peace prize, an NAACP Image award, or anything for that matter. However, she has paved the way for me. With relentless pressure, I am who I am today in the beauty industry because of her. This young lady that I personally would like to highlight is my cousin, Sherrica Jones. I remember growing up and having always admired her knowledge about the beauty industry. Shay, as we in the family call her, started in the beauty industry at a very young age, and later on, became a cosmetologist teacher. I remember sitting down with her right before I graduated college, and speaking to her about my options pertaining to cosmetology school. I conversed with Shay about a particular school that I had in mind, and she looked at me with the biggest smile on her face and said, "Cousin, go for it!" Shay used to always say to me, "I believe in you, and you’re going to do big things." She was such an inspiration to my life. Shay was the first person that I met who loved the beauty industry, and it's her passion that made me fall more in love with the beauty industry. Shay used to say to me that my opportunities in the beauty industry are endless, and she was most certainly correct. For these reasons, I can not ever think of the beauty industry, and not think of the way she paved for me. Her tenacity, her love, and her knowledge of the beauty industry was so overwhelming that I had no choice but to follow in her footsteps and become a stylist. This black history month, I’m honoring you, Shay. I’m honoring you for giving me a little seed and a vision - a vision I could never shake off even if I tried. Thank you for the days and times you spent pouring into me when you weren'teven aware. Happy Black History month to you! You are Black History!
