Where did the year go?

It was just about a year ago that my mother and I were having a conversation about how I would be nearly done with school in about a year. It seems so strange that my life can change so much in a year. 13 months ago I was jobless and had no idea what I was going to do with myself and today I have a job in one of the best apprenticeship programs in the United States. In a month, I find out if I will have the opportunity to travel the United States spreading the Matrix gospel. This place in my life takes back, way back.
I remember when my mom worked at a salon on the Southside called Lady Di. If you're from the Southside, you'll know that it was in an old Victorian house across the street from what is now Little Caesars on Central just south of Vineyard. This is where she made a friend who would later become her business partner, Pat. She went to speak to the salon owner right out of cosmetology school and, if I recall correctly, was hired on the spot. She still tells me about a lady who worked there named Gracie, who pretty much kept to herself. From what my mom said, Gracie was busy with her own life and really didn't have time for anybody else's drama.
The odd thing about Gracie was that, through the course of things, she taught my mom quite a bit of what she knew. "You're really going to learn the most once you get in the salon," is my mothers words of wisdom for me. She still tells me that whenever she didn't have clients at Lady Di, she would watch Gracie work. Gracie was a mentor to my mom and I can say that this mentoring, combined with my mom's Pivot Point education, made my mom the stylist she later became when she opened her own salon with Pat.
As I finish this volume (you know, as in an encyclopedia) in my life I'm can't help but compare where I am about to be with where my mother was at this time.
I will say that I didn't get to spend much time with my mother back then (sometimes she was nice enough to take me with her to work), but I know she was busy trying to become independent and raise myself and my three siblings. I also get to spend much more time with her now and have the benefit of everything she learned in her career.

I'm officially a Matrix Spread the Love Finalist!

Today Matrix made the announcement naming the 20 Spread the Love finalists. I'm so happy to be one of them. As I've mentioned before, of course I want to win, but I'd be completely happy with the accomplishment of having been a finalist. I can't say that I won't be disappointed if I don't win, but I think the fact that I'm a finalist will open so many doors for me in this industry (and probably outside the industry, as well).
As I'm getting into the home stretch of my education, it seems there are so many emotions that are surfacing and I have to say that I am so glad I made the decision to join the beauty industry. Its a risk that is worth my investment and I am so excited to see what else happens in my career if this is what has happened in under one year.

Thank you for reading my blog and taking an interest in me and thank you to the village that it took to raise me and thank you to everyone who has and continues to believe in me.

Sadly, my grandfather passed away two months too soon to hear about this accomplishment, but I know that he would have been proud of me nonetheless. And I am glad all of you are here to celebrate this with me.

Whatever happens from here, I know its the best for me and I'll keep that attitude in mind when I go to New York and find out if I'm one of the six who are chosen to represent Matrix next year.

PTL!