These Gallatin students pursue their passion for cosmetology. This gives them real-world experience

GALLATIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Do you ever look back at high school and wish you learned something more specific toward a particular career path?

I wanted to talk about sports on the radio. My best opportunity in high school was to write for the newspaper. That was great. Fun fact: it was actually where my love for features and human interest storytelling began.

Still, I wanted more of a real-world experience. Students at Gallatin High School get that real world experience in their cosmetology program.

It's a competitive program. That's what Jennifer Grainger told me about what she implemented about three years ago. Grainger leads this program.

"They gotta know how to talk to people, they gotta know how to look in their eyes and shake their hand," she said.

In their classroom, there are desks. If you take a look along the perimeter, it looks like any other barber shop or salon. There are sinks for washing hair, chairs for pedicures and of course mirrors and chairs for haircuts and coloring.

What impressed me the most was the community support. Members of the Gallatin Fire Department come in and get their haircuts.

"Community outreach," said one member. "I mean these are kids that we protect and hopefully they're the ones that will protect us when we get older."

This program has also visited nursing homes to cut hair for residents.

"I think that they (the students) rise every time," Grainger said.

Do you have a positive story you'd like to share for Take Time to Smile? You can email me at Austin.Pollack@newschannel5.com.

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Middle Tennessee nurses collect donations for Hurricane Helene victims

Another example of how one person can truly make a difference. And the best part - we all can help! As a nurse, Laura handles emergencies every day. But nothing could prepare her for the emergency that brought her hometown to its knees. From her current home in Tennessee, she's mobilizing aid and supplies for Helene survivors and is helping make their recovery easier and their holidays brighter. I hope you take a moment to watch her story - you might even feel inspired to lend a helping hand.

-Rebecca Schleicher