Central Queensland University
Central Queensland University
04/07/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Sarah quits marketing and finds joy in beauty therapy studies - CQUniversity
Sarah Brown's decision to quit her marketing career and discover the sauna and spa life has shown that beauty can truly be in the eye of the beholder at CQU.
The 27-year-old Rockhampton woman is thriving in her Diploma of Beauty Therapy course and has already applied to several beauty salons seeking employment. Yet beauty therapy wasn't always her first career choice.
"In 2018, I graduated with a dual Bachelor degree - Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business (Marketing). For almost a year afterwards, I worked a small freelance digital marketing role. Unfortunately, during my time in the job I realised marketing just wasn't for me," she said.
Sarah said with the lack of hours in her marketing role and a second job in the fast-food industry, she decided to make a change.
"I decided to quit both jobs and use my long service leave as I had reached 10 years' service in my fast-food job and move overseas to help me figure out what I really wanted to do with my life," she said.
"I applied for a working holiday visa and moved to Norway for a year. During that time I fell in love with the spa and sauna culture.
"During one of my visits there, I thought to myself, 'I'd love to work somewhere relaxing like this'. For months I researched what exactly working at a spa entailed. I've always enjoyed giving massages since I grew up massaging my disabled mother who has chronic pain.
After looking into what qualifications she would need to work in a spa or salon, Sarah applied to study the Diploma of Beauty Therapy.
"I've never really been interested in beauty therapy. I've grown up as quite a tomboy. So, I was worried at first that I wouldn't enjoy the other aspects of the degree such as make-up and nails, but I've found myself enjoying everything we've learned so far," she said.
"(My teacher) Mary McKenzie is excellent whose experience is clear in her teaching. She is also very kind and considerate. After I briefly mentioned that I take the bus home, she went out of her way to set an alarm on her laptop to remind her to send me home early. I found this gesture incredibly meaningful, as it meant I didn't have to wait 50 minutes after class for the next bus."
Sarah is currently seeking employment in the local beauty sector and possibly undertaking an apprenticeship.
"I'm not currently working in a salon, but I've recently applied for several beauty salons in Rockhampton in the hopes of getting a job to grow my skills as I learn," she said.
"What I like most about being a Beauty Therapist is helping people to relax and pamper themselves. Everyone deserves to treat themselves every now and then. I enjoy being the person who helps them achieve that."
She encouraged anyone considering beauty therapy studies to try it out.
"There's so much variety in the course. I was surprised by how many different skills go into the Beauty Industry. You'll learn about massage, make-up, nails, lashes and brows, waxing, tanning, skincare and even nutrition," she said.
"Being a Beauty Therapist lets you pamper people from head to toe. If you enjoy making people feel great about themselves, Beauty Therapy might be the job for you."