A passion for style – and Upward Scholars support – transform a student’s life

Statistically speaking, Upward Scholars student Rosa faced an uncertain future. At age 13, an abusive home life led Rosa to get in with the wrong crowd. She did drugs, joined a gang, and ran away from home, becoming a regular at Juvenile Hall.

At 16, Rosa left home for good and, soon after, dropped out of high school so she could work enough hours to pay her rent. When she was 21, Rosa gave school another chance, enrolling at Sequoia Adult School and earning her high school diploma in just five months.

Rosa with her high school diploma teacher, Rhea Dryer, at the Sequoia Adult School graduation.

Rosa’s life turned around when a counselor, noticing Rosa’s passion for style, suggested she enroll in the cosmetology program at the College of San Mateo (CSM).

But CSM’s 15-month long cosmetology program isn’t cheap. With books, uniform, shoes, and a complete cosmetology kit, program costs, not including tuition, come to about $2,000, far more than Rosa could afford.

Upward Scholars support made it possible for Rosa to turn her life around. 

Rosa learns her craft by practicing on a classmate.

“When I was accepted in the cosmetology program, I knew that studying cosmetology would give me the knowledge to become an independent and successful woman,” Rosa says. “Upward Scholars made a good future possible for me, and for that I will always be grateful.”

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Interested in studying cosmetology at CSM?

To find out more about the Cosmetology program at College of San Mateo, send an email to Cynthia James at jamesc@smccd.edu. 

Cindy will email you the date of the next Open House at CSM for students interested in the program. After attending the Open House, please contact Upward Scholars Executive Director Linda Prieto at Linda@UpwardScholars.org to see how to apply for an Upward Scholars scholarship to help cover the costs of the program.