Now owner of her own beauty business, Visage Beauty in Motueka, mother of two Raquel Chapman can look back and feel proud of her decision to train for and achieve a Certificate in Beauty Services (Beauty Assistant) from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. She had to juggle the challenges of returning to study with looking after two young children, a husband, a lifestyle block and travelling.

“It was incredibly hard at times but I knew what I wanted. It is empowering to go back to school, and especially to show the kids that mum can do anything she sets her mind to.”

The desire to help people to look good and be around those that are generally happy led her to NMIT to study beauty.

“People come to me because they want to, not because they have to. Even something as simple as tidying a customer’s eyebrows can make them feel a million dollars. It is cool seeing someone go out feeling more confident than they did before they came in.”

As an adult student Raquel found her tutors an amazing support.

“I would constantly be going to them if I didn’t understand anything and they would take the time to explain it to me. They were tremendous and I can’t praise them enough.”

When Raquel looks back to when she was younger, she says they never had the opportunities that are available today.

“It was incredible for me, Nelson is lucky to have such a facility. The amenities are awesome, from a gym, a nurse, a centre for people with learning difficulties, and the one I took advantage of the most, day care. Without day care for my two year old I couldn’t have completed the course.”