This isn’t the first UCOL graduation for Tessa, who is successfully working her way through UCOL’s beauty programmes, from Level 2 to Level 5.
Born and bred in Whanganui, Tessa hails from a tight knit family where she's the youngest of four.
"I've got an older sister and two older brothers and are close with all of them. My sister has three boys too so I'm often at her place helping out," she smiles.
Tessa attended Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Correspondance School) through her sceondary years, it was through this experience that she was recommended
UCOL's U-Skills secondary-tertiary programme from one of her Learning Advisors.
"I was already into hair and makeup, so I jumped at the recommendation of joining
U-Skills Hair, Beauty and Retail Level 2 and I absolutely loved it!"
After completing U-Skills, there was no question for Tessa about beginning the Certificate in Beauty Therapy Level 3, which she breezed through thanks to "fantastic tutors and awesome support from friends and family".
Tessa then took a year away from studying, working full-time at a local cafe and getting married to her partner. "While I was working for a year, I realised how much I missed being in the beauty space and learning new techniques. With encouragement from my husband and family, I enrolled in the
Level 4 Certificate in Beauty Therapy – which is what I'm graduating from now," she explains.
"It was the best choice! I'm so glad I returned and kept pursuing this. I absolutely loved it. The tutor was so helpful, very kind and always happy to help. She always encouraged us to ask questions and would walk us through everything to make sure we all got it. I'm really grateful."
As she reflects on her favourite parts of the Beauty Therapy Certificate, she lights up - her enthusiasm contagious.
"The skincare was definitely a standout for me. I love the healthcare side of things and skin is the largest organ in your body so you have to look after it. I loved being able to do that for others!
"I was already into makeup at the time and was working with a wedding makeup artist doing the bridesmaids' makeup. It was great to learn new techniques through the course at the same time so I could go and apply those in real life, not just my assignments.
"I also really liked that we were able to have clients come in. It's really helped push me out of my comfort zone adding in the socialising and small talk on top of actually completing their treatments. Learning how to sell the products and the best ways to do so, was also really helpful to learn – especially for those of us who want to start our own businesses," she says.
During that year I had some fantastic help from the Whanganui library staff and learning advisors. "All the staff were so helpful, it definitely helped make my time in the courses much easier knowing that the support was there!"
"I was going to go back to working again after completing last year's course, but with not a lot of jobs going, I decided to travel to Palmerston North to complete the
Diploma in Beauty Therapy Level 5. After this, I'm hoping to find a role in industry for a year or two before looking to open my own salon."
Her advice to others thinking about studying at UCOL? "Do it! It's been fantastic, they're so supportive. Beauty especially is awesome if you're interested in it, the health side of it is so interesting but you gain other more general skills too. Just give it a go!"