Junk Reviews The Keystone

Everyone is forced to sort through shit tons of paperwork when they apply to and get into colleges, universities, trade schools, etc. Along with the the application, the payment plan, my contract with Brown Aveda, etc, I received a rule book. This booklet includes rulings regarding the fairly strict dress code, what we are expected to do with our baroque name tags and beauty school kits, what classes I am supposed to take (I already mentioned the basic topics I'll be educated in), etc.
"Semesters"
This training is 45 weeks long, Tuesday through Saturday, 9am-5pm (but I was told that arriving to school at 8:45 is best. This is a buisness where if your on the dot your already late) and 1500 hours. The "quarters" are split up into units:

Introduction Unit- 404.00 classroom hours and 16.00 clinic (salon) hours coming to a total of 420.00 hours (12 weeks). Alpha Unit- 70.00 classroom hours and 315.00 clinic hours coming to a total of 420.00 hours (12 weeks). Using many lectures, demonstrations and workshops (God, I hope someone will use me like a guinea pig and sew in a nice weave that's not from Sally's), well learn the basics of hair cutting and styling hair and scraping the tip of iceberg on nail and skin care. Retail merchandising (Aveda has a grand line of products), mastering costumer service, state safety laws, etc. are covered during this "semester".

Beta Unit- 70.00 classroom hours and 350.00 clinic hours coming to a total of 420.00 hours (12 weeks). All that time in the clinic will boost our confidence when it comes to professional ability and we begin to grasp the art of being a good interviewees and becomming expertees at resume writing. This is also when I'm supposed to, "unlock your creativity as you explore the latest trends and techniques in hair cutting, stying, coloring, permanent waving, and chemical restructuring" (I'll be on my knees, begging to a higher power for beehives hairdos, finger waving, etc. to come back into style within the next month- I know, Bill O'Reily would advertise the Black Panther Party before that happens).

Gamma Unit- 56.00 classroom hours and 219.00 clinic hours coming to a total of 275.00 hours (8 weeks). Our levels of concentration, accuracy and talent are salon-ready. This is when we are to work on time management, entrepreneurship and self-promotion (I don't think they mean sell merchandise like a band, but mugs with my "BUH" face or my ugly cat, Boy printed on them could be a successful and worthwhile move, yes?). This is when we take our final salon tests and the written exams.

(Note: I am in no way part of the esthetics program. This blog is focused on cosmetology. I am skimming over the esthetics part of the pamphlet but I will not take notes in this blog).

"Admission Requirments"
-Informational interview with an admissions representative. It is not as frightening as it sounds. As controversial and forward as I appear in writing, I am painfully shy when I am in unfamiliar situations. After about fifteen minutes of the woman's warm voice, I was rested enough to admit to learning and speech problems that I have and that I am very shy around demanding people and people I don't know well, but that this has been an interest of mine for as long as I could remember.

-Take and pass a basic skills exam. You don't study for this test. A large portion of this test is common sense. It includes basic math (I don't have math education past some geometry so when I say it's "basic", it really is), english and some science. Very typical street smarts is involved (Example: Which side of the road do you drive on in America? The right side).

-Submitting a letter of intent, describing goals and why you want to attend Brown Aveda. I sent two pages to Brown Aveda, telling them when I discovered the world of beauty (surprisingly it wasn't during modeling, it was when I saw Marilyn Monroe in, How to Marry a Millionaire, frollicking about in that sexy, red bathing suit).

-Submit a letter of recommendation. My human rights/living law/government teacher, Mr. D wrote me one when I was still in high school (he helped me begin our high schools sect of the Gay/Straight Alliance) and my cousin also wrote me a letter. They made me sound decent so I was satisfyed.

-Submit high school transcripts. I had to twist the college counselor's arm to get these (the one that said I would never make anything of myself). I wish you luck and hope you don't have to go through hell (this is for anyone applying anywhere).

-Submit an enrollment contract. When I signed that contract, I felt like I was suddenly giving my life to someone. My heart jumped to my throat. It was that of a blood oath. The loyalty and elbow grease I am dedicating to this institution makes my organs play tug of war with one another. Just take a deep breath and sign your name. If it's something you want to do.

"Student Evalutation"
Projects, class participation, written tests, homework, daily clinic times, quotas, accuracy and improving quality of services, customer service, etc. are all closely examined by teachers and supervisors and graded. This isn't the grading system I remembered from high school:
100-99%: A
98-96%: A-
95-93%: B+
92-90%: B
89-88%: B-
87-86%: C+
85-84%: C
83-81%: C-
80%: D
79%: F
*Gulp!*

"Standards"
1.) Success is achieved partcially due to maintaining a professional appearance.
a.) We get one uniform shirt and one apron. We are expected to keep it clean, ironed and unaltered. The replacement cost is 75.00$.
b.) No other shirt, jacket or sweatshirt is to be worn over the top of the uniform. All undergarments must be BLACK.
c.) We use identification badges to clock in and out each day. We are never to leave the building with them on. I wonder how many people will ask me the origin of my name, if it's my real name, etc.
d.) We have to wear solid, black dress pants (how dare one wrinkle be visible). Revealing clothes, hats, sunglasses, etc. cannot be worn. At least that stage I went through freshman and sophmore year where I constantly wore bandanas over my face has come and gone.
e.) No tennis shoes, tennis shoe look alikes or open toed shoes are permitted. The shoes must be black.
f.) "Brown Aveda Institute reserves the right to maintain an esthetic standard for all students". It scares me to think that they can tell us that we don't look clean. I'm too worried. I shower.
g.) If the Brown Aveda Institute doesn't believe your dressed for work, they can send you home to change. I live a half hour away from this school. I may as well leave my wardrobe in the car just in case.
h.) Students may leave the property during lunch as long as they clock in and out and return in time for clinic/ classroom time.
i.) Services may not be performed on fellow students unless the class is doing a fashion show or a demonstration with supervision.

2.) We are supposed to conduct ourselves in a professional matter.
a.) Actions disrupting the learning process (foul language, rudeness, etc.) will have you being dismissed for the day.
b.) Food, candy and beverages stay in the lunchroom. No gum is to be chewed anywhere.
c.) Smoking is prohibited anywhere on the property.
d.) You may use cell phones on lunchbreak in the locker rooms and the cafeteria.
e.) Visitors come through front doors and check in at the front desk. They can only visit a student if the student is on an approved break.

Everything else was about the absense policies and refunds which was putting me to sleep.

"Holidays"
-January 1st: New Years Day
-Martin Luther King Day
-Memorial Day
-Independence Day: July 4th
-Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thursday in November
-2 day December break
-5 Conferance Days throughout the year

This is a majority of my time being eaten alive in just a little over a month. I must begin to make preparations to say, "good bye" to people. To be honest, I've been feeling woeful and depressed for the last month or so, but lets not launch into that. I don't want to be one of those bloggers who complains about their girlfriend dumping them or whatever.

"Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men"-Douglas Bader

-M. Junk