Shania Hawkins, a second-year hairdressing ākonga (student), is getting ready for the next step in her career as she completes her training.
Shania enrolled at NMIT at the end of 2020, taking the COVID-19 lockdowns as an opportunity to end her work in a restaurant kitchen. The role was no longer inspiring her and as she always wanted to be a hairdresser, she decided to start her study.
“I love getting my hair done, so I wanted to be able to make people feel good about themselves by looking after them and their hair,” Shania said.
She will try to look for a job somewhere local in the region once qualified.
Shania found that NMIT have amazing support systems, both around campus and from her tutors.
“I love NMIT,” she said, “Everyone is just really supportive. If you ever need help, they keep reminding you that help is there.”
