My name is Julia Hemeling, and I am a 17 year old student at Gretna High School in Gretna, Nebraska. One of the most significant and heartbreaking losses I have experienced was losing a baby due to a miscarriage, a result of domestic violence I endured. This loss was devastating and reshaped my perspective on life, love, and the strength it takes to move forward when everything feels shattered. Experiencing something so painful at a young age forced me to confront my emotions, find resilience I didn’t know I had, and seek healing while continuing to pursue my dreams. This experience has shaped who I am today in profound ways. I have learned the importance of self worth, compassion, and perseverance. While the pain of that loss has never fully left me, it has inspired me to focus on my future with determination and to create a life of purpose. I am motivated to help others who face difficult circumstances, whether through encouragement, support, or simply showing care and empathy. That drive has fueled my passion for cosmetology, a career where I can not only express my creativity but also make others feel confident, seen, and valued. Cosmetology allows me to take something as personal as appearance and transform it into a source of empowerment. Providing hair and makeup services to family, friends, and clients has shown me how small acts of care can have a lasting impact on someone’s confidence and self-esteem. I see every client as an opportunity to uplift, encourage, and bring a positive change to their day. My own experience with loss has given me a deeper understanding of the power of emotional support, and I carry that perspective into my work. This loss has also influenced how I live my life daily. I prioritize gratitude, resilience, and compassion, knowing how fragile life can be. I am determined to turn my experiences into a source of strength and motivation, pushing myself to pursue my goals while helping others along the way. I plan to attend cosmetology school, earn my license, and grow my small business, with the hope of creating a space where people feel safe, empowered, and valued. While the pain of losing a child is something I will always carry, it has shaped me into someone who is empathetic, determined, and passionate about making a positive impact. I want my life and career to reflect the resilience I have developed and to honor that loss by helping others feel supported, confident, and encouraged in their own lives.

My name is Julia Hemeling, and I am a 17-year-old student at Gretna High School in Gretna, Nebraska. Although I was in foster care until age three, I grew up closely observing the experiences of my four older siblings while they were in the system. Their journeys gave me a unique perspective on resilience, perseverance, and the importance of support and compassion. Recently, I have been reconnecting with my birth family, navigating the challenges and emotions that come with those relationships. Through all of this, my faith in Jesus has been my guide, providing me with strength, hope, and a reminder that I am never alone. My faith has shaped the way I view challenges and the way I approach helping others. I believe that God places us in circumstances to grow and to prepare us for the work He wants us to do. Seeing the struggles of my siblings and my own early life has fueled my desire to lift others up, particularly those who may feel overlooked, unsupported, or undervalued. I want to use the gifts and talents God has given me to create positive experiences for others, whether through service, encouragement, or my chosen career in cosmetology. Cosmetology is my passion because it allows me to combine creativity with impact. I have built my skills by practicing on family and friends, and I run a small business providing hair and makeup services for formal events. What I love most is seeing how something as simple as a hairstyle or a touch of makeup can transform someone’s confidence and self-esteem. I see cosmetology as more than Beauty, it is a way to serve, encourage, and empower others, helping them feel valued and seen. My experiences in foster care and my faith have shaped my goals by teaching me resilience, empathy, and purpose. I aim to pursue cosmetology professionally, attend cosmetology school, and grow my business into a space where people not only look their best but feel cared for and supported. I also want to use my skills to give back to the community, providing services to those in need, mentoring younger students, and sharing encouragement wherever I can. Through faith, hard work, and the desire to help others, I am determined to turn my experiences into a platform for positive impact. I want my life to reflect the compassion, joy, and service that Krista D. Ford exemplified, trusting Jesus to guide me as I move forward courageously to reach my full potential and help others do the same.

My name is Julia Hemeling, and I am a 17 year old student at Gretna High School in Gretna, Nebraska. I am also part of the Gateway to College program at Metro Community College, which has challenged me academically while giving me opportunities to grow within my community. Through volunteering experiences, I have learned the value of giving back, connecting with others, and supporting people in meaningful ways. These experiences have shaped who I am today and inspired me to bring care, attention, and empathy to everything I do. I have been passionate about cosmetology for as long as I can remember. What began as doing hair and makeup for family and friends has grown into my own small business, providing services for formal events. I love the creativity involved in hairstyling, coloring, and makeup, but what I value most is the ability to boost someone’s confidence. Seeing a client’s face light up when they look in the mirror and feel proud of themselves is the most rewarding part of my work. It’s in these moments that I realize cosmetology is more than just beauty, it’s about connection, self-expression, and empowering others. Through my career in cosmetology, I want to make a positive impact on the world by helping people feel confident, valued, and supported. Confidence changes the way people carry themselves, the way they approach challenges, and even the way they interact with others. I hope to create experiences where clients feel not only beautiful, but seen and appreciated. Additionally, I want to give back to my community by offering my services for special occasions for individuals who may not have access to them, and by mentoring other students who are interested in pursuing cosmetology. I believe this aligns with the vision Amber Lark had: to support health, wellness, and self-esteem through beauty. What sets me apart is my determination, creativity, and willingness to take initiative. Running my own business at 17 has taught me responsibility, communication, time management, and perseverance. Volunteering through the Gateway to College program has strengthened my ability to connect with people from all backgrounds and shown me that even small acts of service can leave a lasting impact. I am committed to continuing to grow in this field, constantly learning new techniques and skills, while using my work to empower others and make a difference. Cosmetology is not just a career for me,it is a way to inspire confidence, promote self-expression, and positively impact my community. I am passionate, driven, and ready to turn what I love into a meaningful career that honors the legacy of Amber Lark by uplifting others, one client at a time.

My name is Julia Hemeling, and I am a 17-year-old student at Gretna High School in Gretna, Nebraska. I am also part of the Gateway to College program at Metro Community College, which has challenged me academically while giving me incredible opportunities to get involved in my community. Through volunteering experiences, I have learned the value of giving back, connecting with others, and making a difference in people’s lives. These experiences have shaped who I am and inspired me to bring care, attention, and creativity to everything I do. I am passionate about cosmetology because it allows me to combine creativity with making a real difference in people’s lives. What started as doing hair and makeup for family and friends has grown into my own small business, providing services for formal events. I love being able to express my creativity through hairstyles, makeup, and attention to detail, but what excites me most is seeing the confidence my work can give someone. That moment when someone looks in the mirror and feels proud of themselves is why I love this field, and it drives me to keep learning, improving, and growing my skills. Through my career in cosmetology, I hope to make a positive impact on the world by helping people feel confident, valued, and empowered. I know that confidence is contagious, when someone feels good about themselves, it affects how they carry themselves, interact with others, and approach challenges. I also want to use my skills to give back to my community, whether that’s offering my services for special occasions for those who might not otherwise have access to them or mentoring others who are interested in cosmetology. I believe my creativity, determination, and willingness to take initiative at a young age set me apart. Running my own business has taught me responsibility, communication, time management, and perseverance. Volunteering through the Gateway to College program has strengthened my ability to connect with people from all backgrounds and shown me the difference even small acts of service can make. I am excited to continue growing in this field and to use my skills not just to do hair and makeup, but to uplift, encourage, and inspire others. Cosmetology isn’t just a career for me, it’s a way to make people feel their best, to boost confidence, and to leave a positive mark on my community and beyond. I am committed, passionate, and ready to turn what I love into a career that truly makes a difference in the world.

My name is Julia Hemeling, and I am a 17-year-old student at Gretna High School in Gretna, Nebraska. I am also enrolled in the Gateway to College program at Metro Community College, where I am taking important steps toward my future while continuing my high school education. Being part of this program has not only helped me grow academically, but has also allowed me to become more integrated within my community through a variety of volunteering experiences. These opportunities have helped me build connections, develop empathy, and understand the importance of giving back. I have a strong passion for cosmetology and a genuine desire to help people feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. What started as simply doing hair and makeup for family and friends quickly grew into something much more meaningful. Over time, I turned my passion into a small business where I provide hair and makeup services for formal events. Through this experience, I have not only improved my technical skills, but I have also learned how to communicate with clients, manage my time, and handle the responsibilities that come with running a business. What I love most about cosmetology is the combination of creativity and connection. I enjoy being able to express myself artistically while also making a positive impact on others. Seeing someone’s confidence grow after I’ve worked with them is the most rewarding part of what I do, and it motivates me to continue improving every day. In the future, I plan to pursue a career in cosmetology by attending cosmetology school and earning my professional license. I am committed to continuing to build my skills, expand my client base, and grow my business. My long-term goal is to establish myself in the beauty industry and eventually create a space where people feel welcomed, confident, and valued. I believe my strong work ethic, creativity, attention to detail, and determination will help me succeed in this trade. Starting my own business at a young age has taught me the importance of discipline, responsibility, and perseverance. My volunteering experiences have strengthened my ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and reinforced my desire to make a positive impact. I am not afraid to step outside of my comfort zone, and I am always willing to learn and grow. Most importantly, I am passionate about what I do, and I am excited to turn that passion into a successful and fulfilling career.