TEMPLE, Texas — The Temple High School cosmetology program had two special visitors on Wednesday (April 6). Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Commissioner Helen Callier and TDLR education and examination liaison Rebecca Armas were on hand to visit with students in Melissa Coppage’s Cosmetology I class.
Callier and Armas reached out to Coppage after seeing the program featured in a local news story on cosmetology’s participation in a door decorating contest for Black History Month. The pair spent about an hour with the class, addressing students, answering questions and touring the program’s facilities in Temple High School’s Career and Technical Education wing. Callier also spent time explaining what the department’s responsibilities are and shared her background before joining the office. She also encouraged the current students by talking about the growth coming to Temple, the opportunities that will be available for students and the importance cosmetologists have in a community.
“In the past few years, with the pandemic, cosmetologists and barbers played a huge, huge role in my opinion,” Callier told the students. “So many people were being affected by the stress and the strain and missed so much that time to feel better about themselves and that interaction. I hope that you love, love doing hair because that makes such a big impact on the lives that you touch and that you are going to touch in the future. My stylist worked with three generations of my family and I cried when she told me she was going to retire. I hope you understand that is the kind of impact you can have on people’s lives.”
Armas also told students more about the testing and licensing process in the state of Texas. She shared some of the resources available to students, answered questions and encouraged them to start making their voices heard by participating in virtual town meetings offered through the TDLR website. Armas also referenced the importance of the industry and how much of an impact these students can make by entering the field. That last point is one that Coppage hopes will resonate with her students long after today’s visit ended.
“I hope that this really encouraged them to stay strong,” Coppage said. “I know that a lot of the time they don’t see the end goal and what it takes to get licensed. I hope they understand the impact they can have on the community and want to stay with it and finish the process of getting licensed.”