A mother and a student

I am a 33-year-old mother of three children aged 12, 7 and 3 years old. Apart from raising my children and being a mother, I was working part-time in a hairdressing salon as an assistant. I wanted to improve my knowledge and develop my skills, and to study properly in order to earn an accredited diploma – so that I could be a professional and work as a fully qualified hairdresser. I love being a mum, but I wanted to do something for myself – personally to develop as a person – and do something on my own. This was my dream, but I knew that with three children it would probably never come to fruition.

Then I heard about a college not far from my home that offered a recognised accredited Hairdressing Higher Diploma programme, so I visited them for information. Not only were they offering a programme that I was interested in, the schedule of classes meant that I could go to college in the mornings and be home with my children in the afternoons.

I registered on the programme in 2018 and have now successfully completed my first year of a three-year Higher Diploma. The course is wonderful, and I have learnt so many new things. I have also had the opportunity to attend various seminars organised by the college in hairdressing, during this last year, which has enhanced my knowledge and skills at the same time as studying for my course.

This course has changed my life and my dream is coming true. In two more years of studying and training, I will be a qualified hairdresser and will ultimately fulfill my dream. I will always be a mother to my three children, but I will also have achieved earning a Higher Diploma in Hairdressing and will be qualified – I hope to open my own salon. I am proof that it is never too late to re-skill and take up a new profession. With a few sacrifices and a lot of hard work, it is possible to achieve your goals.

Paraskevi Adamou, Mother and student, Cyprus