A FORMER teacher with a degree in German has restyled her career to fulfil her dream of becoming a hairdresser.
Victoria Gosney describes herself as “the oldest junior in town” working one day a week at Shine Hair & Beauty, at Preston Farm, Stockton, and training two evenings a week.
The opportunity is a dream come true for the mum of two, who always loved hairdressing but who followed a different professional route after doing her A levels at school in Billingham followed by a degree in German with linguistics at Lancaster University.
She taught German and French at her old school – Billingham Campus, now Northfield – for two years then spent the next decade teaching English at international schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where her husband works in the oil and gas industry.
Now Victoria is hoping her change of career at the age of 36 will inspire other women to follow their dreams.
“I’ve always loved hair and the whole celebrity culture. I used to go to Jacqui, who is now my boss at Shine Hair & Beauty, as a client and would watch and try and understand what she was doing.
“I wanted to learn but wasn’t sure if I could do it. It was Jacqui who suggested I should get a placement, and when she opened Shine Preston Farm she offered me a position.”
Now Victoria has turned from client to trainee under the guiding hand of Jacqui, who has been training stylists for more than 20 years both in-salon and at a national training academy, and has put many young hairdressers on a career and professional development path.
Victoria added: “I love Fridays when I’m in the salon, I can’t wait to get to work where I’m learning so much. I’m also really enjoying the training too and feel like I’m learning fast.”
After her children Olivia, six, and Teddy, three, came along, Victoria took a break but when it was time to go back to work she decided she did not want to return to teaching.
“I loved lesson planning and making lessons interesting. After I had my own children I knew I didn’t want to be giving up all my weekends for work, but I also knew I couldn’t do the job properly without that sort of commitment.
“I thought my husband would laugh when I said I wanted to become a hairdresser but he fully supported me and told me go for it.”
Victoria, who will qualify in April, added: “I don’t regret my time teaching at all but I believe that if you’re going to do something you have to be passionate about it. I am passionate about hairdressing. I love observing and learning and also the social side of meeting and talking to different people.
“I’m so glad I had the guts to do it. It’s nerve wracking to make such a big change but I’d tell anyone else to absolutely go for it.”
