Running a small business is not just about making a living; it’s about building a dream, completing a creation, and proving that perseverance and hard work can turn a small idea into something amazing. My name is Jayden Gladden, and I am in my second college semester. I am a Barber, but I also recently started a clothing brand. I am a Christian with my clothing brand intentions being to Glorify the true name of God (Yahweh), with my clothing brand being name “Yahweh Is Everywhere”. The name came to me while reading the Bible, in Exodus 3 where God spoke to Moses through an angel in a burning bush. I am so passionate about this brand because I believe it is my way to glorify God. Ever since I’ve allowed God into my life it has changed drastically, even if I didn’t realize it before, God has always kept me safe from danger and has sheltered me in tragic moments. This is my tiny way of spreading the gospel for God, the main mission of this clothing brand is to glorify God’s name and spread the good news. This business will impact the world by getting people to know the good news. People should know that Jesus died for their sins, so all their sins are already forgiven through Jesus. All God wants for them is for them to come to him as they are, confess their sins to him, and accept Jesus as their Messiah. You do not have to live a sinless life like Jesus to be saved because we all sin, the only way to be saved is to accept Jesus as your Messiah. I believe that since my life began, I was too creative to work under someone else, my ideas were unique and strong which is why I’ve always won varying contest growing up. The creativity I bring into my clothing brand is what reels customers in, my brand is completely different from others because of this gift that God has given me. I want to bring in a different vibe to clothes, with a mixture of different trends and new creative ideas. I have learned a lot during my first, failed, runs at dropping clothes. Even though I haven’t had the most successful drops, I have learned a lot about what I should do for my drops to come up, and how I can better use my creativity. Thank you for reading my essay and please check out my brand! My Instagram is @yahwehiseverywhere, and there are post up in the “tagged” area of the page to check out some of the clothes I’ve created.

Growing up I looked at art as an expression of how amazing visuals can look, drawing a cool character/scene from a show, or drawing the busy living room that surrounds me. Now, as an 18-year-old undergraduate, I view art with a more advanced set of eyes. As I still hold on to the amazingness of visuals, I can’t help but view art as a way to express creativity. In my early teenage years, the art pieces I produced were mere copies of the creativity I would see on YouTube videos and Instagram posts. As my maturity came with age, so did the dilemma of what career choice I was going to choose. I knew that I had to use the gift that God gave me to the fullest extent. That is what led me into starting the two business God has granted me with, being a barber and creating a unique clothing brand. I believe these businesses fully embody my artistic mind, creating business cards, different clothing pieces, cool haircut designs, intriguing social media posts, taking artistic photos, and creating imaginative videos. These career choices are what led me to pursue art in college. With the skills that I will learn in college, I can better portray my creative mind. So far in my first official college semester I’ve had two helpful art classes, Art History and Digital Arts I. In these classes I learned color theory, editing on Photoshop and Illustrator, drawing mockups on Photoshop, learning how to read art pieces, how to use equipment to enhance rough paper drawing on the computer, how to create balances in photos, and so much more. This one semester has helped me enhance my business so much in just a couple of months, this is why I will continue to indulge in this major. One of the most inspiring parts of my art career would be the reactions. People’s reactions to how nice they think their haircut looks or the reactions customers tell me they get when they wear my clothing pieces, that’s a beautiful thing to see. It always makes me feel good about what I do, it’s a great reassuring feeling that makes me want to keep doing new creative things. My clothing brand Instagram is called @yahwehiseverywhere and my barbering business Instagram is called @jagcuttz. I will attach my favorite designs, drawing, haircuts, and reactions to my essay. Thank you for reading, may God bless you.

My name is Jayden Gladden, and I've embarked on an exhilarating journey as a self-taught barber. Over the past year, I've dove into the art of barbering, discovering a profound passion for this craft that has quickly become one of my most cherished hobbies. Initially, my barbering was unconventional, relying on YouTube videos and TikTok tutorials to grasp the fundamentals. Gaining newfound knowledge, I transitioned from virtual learning to real-world application, starting with my own hair as the canvas for my experiments. Each trial and error became a stepping stone, propelling me forward on my quest for mastery. From those humble beginnings, I gradually expanded my horizons, progressing from self-haircuts to cutting my brother's hair, then to cutting friends, and then to gaining a little clientele. Though the journey was lengthy, every haircut served as a lesson, refining my technique and expanding my repertoire of skills. Yet, I understand that true greatness lies not only in proficiency but in continuous refinement and growth. Moving forward, I am committed to honing my craft further, seeking out mentorship and guidance to learn the intricacies of running a successful barbering business. With dedication and perseverance, I am poised to elevate my artistry to new heights, setting myself apart as a master of my craft in the ever-evolving world of barbering. However, as with any career path, financial constraints can pose a significant obstacle. This is where theCut scholarship comes into play. By providing financial support, this scholarship not only alleviates the burden of tuition fees but also affords me the opportunity to invest in additional training, workshops, and specialized courses. This, in turn, will enable me to stay ahead of the latest trends, techniques, and technologies in the ever-evolving haircut industry. Beyond the financial assistance, theCut scholarship represents validation and recognition of my dedication and potential within the field. It serves as a catalyst for my continued growth and development, instilling confidence in my abilities and propelling me toward my career goals. With the support of theCut scholarship, I am glad to pursue my career in barbering with renewed determination. I am committed to making a positive impact in the lives of my clients, empowering them to look and feel their best while embracing themselves. I am grateful for this opportunity and eager to embark on this journey toward success in the barbering industry.