My journey has been nothing short of mayhem, but I’m proud to finally say I’ve made it to the cosmetology program at Solano Community College. Growing up, I was placed in special education classes and struggled academically, particularly during my last semester of business classes, which negatively impacted my GPA. Still, I pushed through and completed a business class while waiting for my turn in the cosmetology program. During that time, I was living alone in a new state, working full-time to support myself. Now, three years later, I'm married to my best friend, he is currently separating from active-duty so financially we are two students working full-time and in school full-time. This scholarship would help offset some of the costs of my program. I’ve always had a passion for hair—especially braiding and styling. It’s something that’s brought me joy since I was young. Cosmetology has always felt like the right path for me. Growing up far below the poverty line, I learned to be resourceful and resilient. I moved out the day I turned 18 after growing up in a home with seven or more people in a two-bedroom space. At one point, I even asked my mom to let me file for emancipation at 16, because I believed the state could offer more stability. I mean no offense—she did her best with four kids—but I knew I had to find my own way. Today, as I almost turn 28, I really couldn't be more proud of what I've built thus far. In Vacaville, I’ve found community, love, and support. I’ve overcome learning disabilities, physical health challenges—including a brain tumor diagnosis that pulled me out of high school—and even homelessness. Despite all that, I’ve kept moving forward. I’ve worked since the age of 14, starting at McDonald’s, where I learned the importance of punctuality and professionalism. Later, I worked in retail management at Fred Meyer's in Bellingham, WA, and was promoted to Men’s Department Lead at just 18. That role taught me leadership and responsibility, but I eventually stepped down to go back and finish high school—something I knew I couldn’t give up on, no matter how long it took. Outside of work and school, I spend most of my free time with animals. I volunteer regularly at Stanislaus County Animal Services in Modesto, helping walk dogs, support adoption events, and advocate for at-risk animals. I’ve helped dozens of dogs get adopted or reunited with their families, and I’ve fostered many myself. My love for animals runs deep, and I bring that same compassion into every aspect of my life. Through cosmetology, I hope to create a welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can feel seen, valued, and confident. I want to uplift others the same way I’ve been uplifted in this community. I’ve worked hard to get here, and I’m ready to turn my passion into a meaningful career that makes a difference.

Thank you, Kaitlin, aka Katie, what an opportunity I have to be able to read your story. As I sit here approaching 28, I think back to the 17-year-old girl who got diagnosed with a brain tumor, and I remember being scared. The unknown is hard. I'm grateful every day to be here, and I try my best to make a difference in this crazy world. Since starting school in august ive been able to attend a few community outreach events throughout the Bay Area. We gave out free haircuts at every event, as well as food & turkeys for Thanksgiving. Everything I remember getting help with as a kid, I must give back. My hair Instagram is @kindness.to.the.root.w.kaylee. I chose that username at the beginning of school because, to my core, I want every person I touch to know good, to feel kindness. I love sharing videos of events I've been a part of. Since starting school, my animal activism has slowed down, but I do lots of work with Northern California rescues and shelters. Over the last few years, I've fostered, rescued, and gotten dozens of dogs adopted, so dogs know they forever have my heart, but all I've wanted to do since I was a child is hair! I've always had a passion for helping others. Making people feel beautiful is something Katie and I have in common. I'm currently attending Solano Community College for cosmetology, and I plan to go back for barbering next fall. This scholarship would mean the world to me, as being a cosmetologist is not cheap, and my school has some rough items in our kits. This would help me get newer tools that can help in my career, while I do barbering school. I plan on working full-time, but instead of serving like I currently do, I'll get the privilege of doing hair full-time as an assistant. After getting my cosmetology license and barbering license, I'd love to be able to build an online platform for free education for students and stylists. As a student, I've paid for 3 classes from private educators, and the hands-on portion of learning in a salon is so vastly different. This scholarship could allow me to take a few extra classes as well, so I'd love to help keep Katie's memory living on through us, the future of salon professionals. Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me. I hope to radiate my kindness to all, and I can't wait to see what blessings I'll be able to create for others after graduating. Thank you, Kaylee A.

My journey has been nothing short of mayhem, but I’m proud to finally say I’ve made it to the cosmetology program at Solano Community College. Growing up, I was placed in special education classes and struggled academically, especially during my last semester, which hurt my GPA. Still, I pushed through and completed business classes while waiting for my turn in the cosmetology program. During that time, I was living alone in a new state, working full-time to support myself. Now, three years later, my active-duty husband is helping as much as he can financially so I can attend school full-time and focus on what I love. I’m beyond excited and ready to give this everything I’ve got. I’ve always had a passion for hair—especially braiding and styling. Cosmetology has always felt like the right path for me. Growing up far below the poverty line, I learned to be resourceful and resilient. I moved out the day I turned 18 after growing up in a home with seven or more people in a two-bedroom space. At one point, I even asked my mom to let me file for emancipation at 16, because I believed the state could offer more stability. I mean no offense—she did her best with four kids—but I knew I had to find my own way. Now, at 27, I’ve built a life I’m proud of here in Vacaville. I’ve found community, love, and support. I’ve overcome learning disabilities, physical health challenges—including a brain tumor diagnosis that pulled me out of high school—and even homelessness. Despite all that, I’ve kept moving forward. I’ve worked since the age of 14, starting at McDonald’s, where I learned the importance of punctuality and professionalism. Later, I worked in retail management at Fred Meyer in Bellingham, WA, and was promoted to Men’s Department Lead at just 18. That role taught me leadership and responsibility, but I eventually stepped down to go back and finish high school—something I knew I couldn’t give up on, no matter how long it took. Through all these experiences, my mental health has been both a challenge and a teacher. Growing up in unstable conditions and facing serious health issues took a toll on my confidence and sense of safety. I struggled with anxiety, self-doubt, and the pressure of always having to be strong. Working with E5 Therapy and Dr. Decker completely changed my perspective. He incorporated dogs into therapy, and through that, I learned just how powerful connection and compassion can be in healing. Dr. Decker gave me tools to cope, helped me understand boundaries, and showed me how self-respect can grow into confidence. Those lessons not only helped me rebuild my mental health—they shaped how I see people and the kind of care I want to bring into my career. Outside of work and school, I spend most of my free time with animals. I volunteer regularly at Stanislaus County Animal Services in Modesto, helping walk dogs, support adoption events, and advocate for at-risk animals. I’ve helped dozens of dogs get adopted or reunited with their families, and I’ve fostered many myself. My love for animals runs deep, and I bring that same compassion into every part of my life. Through cosmetology, I hope to create a welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can feel seen, valued, and confident—especially those struggling with their own mental health or self-image. I want to uplift others the same way I’ve been uplifted in this community. I’ve worked hard to get here, and I’m ready to turn my passion into a meaningful career that makes a difference.

I chose cosmetology because it’s always been a passion of mine. For the past ten years, I’ve worked as a braider, and over time, many of my clients have asked if I offered additional services. My answer was always, “I really want to—but I can’t right now.” Coming from a low-income household, I’ve always been cautious about taking on student loans. Financial anxiety runs deep for me, especially since I had to teach myself financial literacy in my twenties after growing up in a financially uninformed environment. But I’ve worked hard to build a stable life. Now, at 27, I’m proud to be able to put myself through school full-time while continuing to work. Cosmetology isn’t just a career choice—it’s my calling. I plan to pursue it to the fullest extent. I want to become certified in extensions and toupees, and I also plan to return to Solano Community College for the barbering program. Making people feel beautiful is deeply meaningful to me. As someone who was bullied growing up for features I couldn’t control, I understand how transformative it can feel to gain confidence through personal expression. Doing my hair was one of the few ways I could reclaim my self-esteem—it gave me a sense of power, identity, and healing. I know I’m not alone in that experience, and I want to offer others the same sense of empowerment. No one needs to change because of what others think—but if changing your hair, skin, or nails makes you feel like your best self, I believe that’s worth supporting. Through cosmetology and barbering, I hope to help others achieve their dreams and feel confident in their own skin. This scholarship would make a meaningful difference in my journey. It would allow me to invest in essential tools for my education—specifically, a reliable laptop or tablet. Having the right technology would help me stay organized, complete assignments, access digital learning resources, and build a professional portfolio. It would reduce a major financial stressor and allow me to focus fully on developing my skills and creativity. In addition to building a successful career, I also want to make sure I give back to my community. I currently volunteer with Stanislaus Animal Services, and I plan to continue supporting local animal rescues and shelters as my career grows. One of my goals is to donate specific days each year where I offer free cuts, or self-care services to volunteers, rescue workers, or members of the community who might not otherwise be able to afford them. I'd also have half of those days be open to anyone in the community wanting to donate- they can come in for a service and whatever i charge 100% goes to a rescue or shelter. Giving back is a value that means a lot to me, and I want to use my career as a way to make a positive impact—not just financially, but personally and emotionally as well. School has never come easy to me, but since starting cosmetology classes this fall, I’ve never felt more motivated. I’m finally pursuing the thing I love most, and I’m ready to accomplish every goal I’ve set for my future.

My journey has been nothing short of mayhem, but I’m proud to finally say I’ve made it to the cosmetology program at Solano Community College. Growing up, I was placed in special education classes and struggled academically, especially during my last semester, which hurt my GPA. Still, I pushed through and completed a business classes while waiting for my turn in the cosmetology program. During that time, I was living alone in a new state, working full-time to support myself. Now, three years later, my active-duty husband is stepping in to help as much as he can financially so I can attend school full-time and focus on what I love. I’m beyond excited and ready to give this everything I’ve got. I’ve always had a passion for hair—especially braiding and styling. It’s something that’s brought me joy since I was young. Cosmetology has always felt like the right path for me. Growing up far below the poverty line, I learned to be resourceful and resilient. I moved out the day I turned 18 after growing up in a home with seven or more people in a two-bedroom space. At one point, I even asked my mom to let me file for emancipation at 16, because I believed the state could offer more stability. I mean no offense—she did her best with four kids—but I knew I had to find my own way. Now, at 27, I’ve built a life I’m proud of here in Vacaville. I’ve found community, love, and support. I’ve overcome learning disabilities, physical health challenges—including a brain tumor diagnosis that pulled me out of high school—and even homelessness. Despite all that, I’ve kept moving forward. I’ve worked since the age of 14, starting at McDonald’s, where I learned the importance of punctuality and professionalism. Later, I worked retail management at Fred Meyers in Bellingham, WA, and was promoted to Men’s Department Lead at just 18. That role taught me leadership and responsibility, but I eventually stepped down to go back and finish high school—something I knew I couldn’t give up on, no matter how long it took. Outside of work and school, I spend most of my free time with animals. I volunteer regularly at Stanislaus County Animal Services in Modesto, helping walk dogs, support adoption events, and advocate for at-risk animals. I’ve helped dozens of dogs get adopted or reunited with their families, and I’ve fostered many myself. My love for animals runs deep, and I bring that same compassion into every aspect of my life. Through cosmetology, I hope to create a welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can feel seen, valued, and confident. I want to uplift others the same way I’ve been uplifted in this community. I’ve worked hard to get here, and I’m ready to turn my passion into a meaningful career that makes a difference.