My father is a very strict man and is always in control over both my sisters and me. My parents are poor when we are young but both my sisters and me have never lament about our parents being poor. However as a kid, we sure envy what our better off friends have and enjoy.
I decided that I wanted to quit school and to look for a job so that I can afford things that I like. So, I left High School when i was only 15 years old. I discussed the idea of going to a hairdressing school with my parents and all hell broke out. My parents were disappointed when i decided to leave school and my father flew into a rage and he told me that he will not agree or support my idea. As for my mum, she just sit there and cries. She wanted to support my idea, however our family is poor and as a full time housewife, she did not have the money to support me.
The next day, my friend called me and ask me to accompany him for his visit to his hairdresser. When i stepped into the salon, I was caught by this awesome atmosphere of the salon (usually I had my hair cut by a local barber during school days).
The salon was filled with stylish hairdressers dressing up people's hair making them looks good and beautiful. From that moment, I find myself being fascinated by this trade. I knew that I need to learn a skill for my future and career. It is in this salon that I met my first boss and mentor, Mr Winston Yau (he was a former Instructor at Head-Quarters Hair Academy, Singapore).
As I watched my friend getting his hair trimmed, an idea came to my mind. I stood up and went to Mr. Winston and I asked: "Can you employ me."
He reply with a laughter: "Tell me, what do you know or what can you do in hairdressing".
I said: "Nothing".
He gave out a even louder laughter. Actually I was feeling pretty embarrassed at that time, because there were quite a number of pretty female customers there. ^^I asked him:" I can do anything to learn hairdressing, can I apply as a salon apprentice?"
Mr Winston paused and stop to think for a while; and then he replied: "Why not, you can join as a salon apprentice. As a salon apprentice, you have to start to learn how to clean the salon as well as learning hairdressing at the same time."
I was so happy that Mr Winston agreed to take me under his wings. I was told that I will not have any salary during my apprentice stint in the salon, however I will be given 3 meals a day by him. I gladly agreed to the deal as I knew that my family can't afford to send me to a hair academy and this is a great opportunity that I can prove to be independent. And I started work the very next day.............
