At IIC, we are so proud of the success of our alumni. From salon and spa owners, to makeup artists, estheticians, cosmetology educators and more, International Institute of Cosmetology graduates are accomplishing great things. The best part? They are doing what they love!

Cosmetology alumni Amelia Tessier graduated in late 2014. With the help of IIC's career services, she was placed at a cutting edge contemporary salon, PeterDominic Salon & Spa. She began in the associate's program offered by the salon, and soon graduated to a level one stylist. This spring, she had the opportunity to speak about her training and career as a stylist to local Simsbury students at a career day. Below, she speaks about how much fulfillment she receives from pursing her passion:

"Today I attended my first annual Lunch n' Learn at a school here in Simsbury; basically another approach to 'Career Day.' It's funny how it takes sitting at a lunch table surrounded by 6 or 7 impressionable thirteen year olds who have endless possibilities for their bright, unwritten futures to truly realize how blessed you are to be where you are. That big scary world and fear of the unknown somewhere dissipates along the way when you realize you are living it. We don't often think about nor get the appropriate opportunity to revisit our pasts or retell our "stories;" our paths that got us to where we are today. There were many forks in the road, choices to be made along the way, but each decision, whether it seemed right or wrong at the time, got us to our current destinations. I've always tried to take what most would consider a mistake and turn it into a learning opportunity; life is so much about how we receive and respond to situations. I am proud of everything that got me to where I am today; my mistakes, my choices and my failures, but even more than that, I am proud to be in an environment every day that lifts my spirits, betters me professionally and personally and to be a part of a team I can call a family. PASSION is something we all have for one thing or another, I'm just blessed enough to use my passion in what I do every single day ❤️ "Love what you do & you never work a day in your life."

Congratulations on your success Amelia, and keep inspiring others to do what they love!

Amelia, after speaking at Lunch 'N Learn in Simsbury