I am Essence Espinoza Thompson and I have first hand experience coming from a single parent household.As my father became deceased in 2014, it is now 2026 and I am 21 years old the young woman I am today is because of my trials and tribulations. Coming from my demographic as a biracial low income single parent household, my mother worked my whole life providing everything I need and the little extra she can do. Till she became disabled in 2021. I was instilled with hard work ,dedication and integrity. I graduated high school with a diploma in may of 2023 while working and attending an internship with BOA Technology in Denver ,Colorado.I then moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to pursue a career in the beauty industry. My passion I recently finished all 1600 hours 2/17/2026 and plan to continue my education in the industry.I am currently pursuing in advanced aesthetics with a start date of 3/25/2026 I would love to continue my education as soon as possible. and every bit of contribution to my learning helps as I still owe money to the school for my cosmetology learnings. And from current and future loans I would greatly appreciate being considered for this scholarship it would relieve some of the burden of debt as I said any amount helps.I currently am working and take care of my disabled mother while trying to live and get through everyday life. I will continue to push myself to never stop learning and get to a point where I am financially stable. Being able to get my family to break generational hardships. I strive for success and this scholarship is one step closer to help me get a career I will love for a life time.To help build a better life of success

My Inspiration is the beauty Industry My Inspiration is my commitment to myself in the beauty industry. My inspiration is being a young chicana Lakota woman raised by a single mother when my father became deceased in 2014. I’m empowering others to strive outside of the box we are put in. But not just inspiration it’s determination the effort I seek and achieve for. I am the essence of the beauty industry and next generation of my industry.I’m currently working PCS part time and in cosmetology school.My graduation date of January 2026 and plan on continuing my education in February 2026 for advanced esthetics. At the same school Aveda Institute Lasvegas. I currently have student loans for cosmetology and plan on future expected loans for schooling. But if awarded this scholarship I can pay off my loans and some future school payments. It would be an opportunity. I would be grateful for to be invested in to relieve some of the stress of school payments. Having my career in the beauty industry working hands on gives me a chance to save and pay for my masters in business and finance. To work on owning a salon of my own and be able to give back to the community myself.All of this is my inspiration I absolutely love making people feel amazing I firmly stand on YOU LOOK GREAT , YOU FEEL GREAT,YOU ARE GREAT. And I can do that with my services and want for a better life to show others if I can do it you can to.i have faced every situation I’ve been through to get to be the young woman I am today I am a chicana Lakota woman first generation high school graduate I’ve beaten the chance of addiction I’ve beaten the chance of teen pregnancy ive beaten the chance of being dead or incarcerated I’ve beaten the chance turning to a life of homelessness and domestic violence I’ve beaten becoming someone I could’ve been and I am proud of who I am and the goals I have set for myself and ones I have yet set in stone .This scholarship is a chance to set me up for success and strive to break the box of limitations on myself. And break generational curses. I am the future of the beauty industry I am Essence Espinoza Thompson and I am an investment to the industry if chosen for this scholarship I’m the very definition of why this scholarship was created.

My name is Essence Espinoza Thompson. and my career objective is to own a salon within the next 5 years .To build and network within my industry and bringing my knowledge to connect within the communities of Lasvegas. Bring people awareness to mental health and personal care. Potentially creating an education plan in the works, For students like me first generation diploma graduate and extended learning. Striving to achieve more and build a name for myself. I am the face of the next generation beauty industry. I’m currently in cosmetology school at Aveda Institute Las Vegas I plan on continuing my education and in 2026 for advanced esthetics. From there I’m getting my licenses to work behind the chair. Working to get my masters in business and finance. While putting in the ground work looking for locations and the best team for me and my vision. I’m currently attending trade school and work part time. In between I take care of my disabled mother who was in a terrible car accident in 2020.My mom is a single mother and cannot work so most of my money goes to bills and cost of living. I simply just cannot afford my extended schooling without get loans with a crazy amount of interest. I have a plan and I’m in the first steps of action with the help of this scholarship it would be a significant relief of the burden of loans and the pressure of making school payments. It’s giving me the opportunity to be one step closer to my goal be apart of my story. Help me achieve to my full potential greatness in my industry. It is not just an investment in myself but in the future the community and a opportunity for a young woman to be just that step closer. I greatly appreciate for you to take the time to read over my essay.

You ask what The importance of the trades are? The trades importance are based on the impact of the one who attends a trade school giving opportunity and skill enhancement In modern society. Trade school helps enhance and grow the people who are given a less privileged position in life or even on a non traditional path.Perseverance and Perspective are everything in any trade a person may attempt. the non traditional career path having life long ability to create a profession with hands on experience and training. My personal goals are to become licensed in Nevada for cosmetology and advanced esthetics. Using my education and experience to give back and bring local communities together, through the youth of Lasvegas. I plan on using my education to gain personal development creating a profession and career in my chosen industry. For myself and to beat the odds and number games society has given me. Being a Lakota woman with a deceased father at the age of 10.Raised by a single mother who became disabled and unable to work since 2020. I am working to break a generational cycle. I am a first generation High-school graduate and will be first generation to extend my learning and skill set. Being able to provide and support myself and family.This scholarship would have a great impact on myself and my mother helping me pay for schooling and licensing. The investment of selecting me for this scholarship will be full circle.I am determined to create a business and name for myself in my industry that will take me far beyond social expectations. Being in a trade school has shown me the resilience and drive I have in myself.Seeing there is multiple options and ways to go in the trades. an everlasting revolution in anyone who attends a trade for people just starting in their chosen field to people restarting for the 5th time in their journey. The impact trade school has given me from passion to profession.Becoming a day maker is everything in the beauty industry.It’s beside the superficial it’s the impact we have on ones day to day life ,just for an hour creating a rememberable experience. The impact on me personally has opened my eyes to different walks of life trying to achieve the same thing in different formats.Being able to work together gaining professional etiquette and being able to be apart of something bigger than myself and has shown me this is just the beginning of what can turn into everything for me. I embody G.R.I.T by not just preaching but falling back on it in day to day life the GENEROSITY in everything I do maybe a bit overzealous at times.But comes from the most genuine place. I try to help and make things easier in people’s life around me.Its doing the simplest thing such as starting the coffee for the day for my mom or even disinfecting another persons item with mine if I see there busy. I’m generous in the kindness I give everyone wanting everyone to feel appreciated and have it reciprocated. RESPECT goes all ways if you respect yourself ,others every place your energy embodies evolves the generations of the future.INNOVATION creates a new idealization and life changing revolution for the future generations creating body longevity and technology for people in a trade. TEAMWORK is needed in everything 1 person cannot do it alone as the old saying goes team work makes the dream work when everyone comes together sharing their unique abilities to create division to a whole.

I’ve chosen cosmetology because I believe in this industry. I believe what I can do in this industry. Cosmetology isn’t just a profession for me but a lifestyle. I don’t just love doing hair makeup nails etc but I love the feeling I give others . I truly believe in look great feel great you are great . I’m Pursuing cosmetology to not change beauty standards but prove that everyone is beautiful and beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. The confidence one fails to see from something so simple as an eyebrow wax to the complete hard core platinum blond highlights. Everyone is unique and possibilities are endless in this industry. I want to create a place for underprivileged women and families to be able to find affordable personal care treatments. I feel as were in a time and age where self care is deemed not essential but study’s have shown taking care of the outside of the body reflects from the inside. When I started cosmetology I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to go and focus on but recently I’ve found where I’m needed and can support in this world that everyone plays a piece in. I want to create an all inclusive atmosphere salon for all hair textures skin types and color I want everyone to feel good and beautiful from every walk of life to create customized experience to fit the movement and shape of everyone’s energies. This scholarship would help me get one step closer to my goal. I also plan on providing educational opportunities to my fellow stylist and networking opportunities starting community outreach events once licensed I am currently in my couple hundred hour mark away from completing my 1600 hour cosmetology schooling my expected grad date is January 20th 2026 from Aveda Institute Lasvegas and plan on coming back the following month for advanced aesthetics Cosmetology is everything for me i have purpose in this industry and have a fresh perspective on the outlook of the beauty world .I’m fully invested in myself and looking for others to see the potential to invest in me as well I can guarantee If given a chance I will take it and run with it till I’m able to give back myself and support other young stylists in this industry thank you for the opportunity to show a lil bit of myself in this essay and a chance to evolve in this industry.

My inspiration for cosmetology is driven from the confidence the beauty industry can give a person. Just a minor adjustment can enhance so much natural beauty. I’ve always loved hair and makeup growing up and into my teens. I started coloring and bleaching my hair, as well experimenting with my makeup creating bold fun looks. I thrived with passion to create different looks and styles. I am Essence Espinoza Thompson I’m from Denver Colorado. My father became deceased when I was 10 and My mother became disabled in 2020 undergoing extensive care and needed surgeries. While living in subsidized housing my mother received section 8 after 15 years of waiting, We then moved to Englewood Colorado transferring me schools the end of my sophomore year . At 16 years of age I started working my first job building my way up from crew member to a cashier as I had no prior experience. I then applied for a summer internship with BOA Technology. BOA took me thru every level of the company from marketing and design to building physical models running tests and other aspects of the business. I also received a scholarship amount of 2500 from BOA Technology as apart of completing the full internship. All while going into my junior year of high school starting over attending a new school and maintaining a job as a young adult in the workforce. I then Graduated with my diploma from Sheridan High school May of 2023. After graduating me and my family decided to move to Lasvegas Nevada July of 2023 as my grandmother was already residing here. Me and my mother now rent a home in central Lasvegas Nevada where I work part time event security with Best Management and home health care at All Valley Home Health . I feel as I’m in the right place to continue education in the career path I love and want to be apart of, The Beauty Industry. I’ve done extensive research on cosmetology programs and schools here in Lasvegas Nevada and found the right one for me at Milan Institute Las Vegas where I will be attending starting September 9th 2024. But even with my 2500 scholarship I’m still in need of paying the rest off of the full cost of tuition and materials which is 20,000 altogether . To receive The Brown skin agenda esthetician and cosmetology scholarship for me would be a blessing as a Native American woman coming from a low income family and deceased father working to better myself and become a self proclaimed licensed business owner and cosmetologist.