Aquene Diedricksen
Aveda Institute Lafayette
December, 2013
Letter of Intent
What is your personal definition of success?
I define success as realizing one’s full potential and harnessing it into positive energy to make an impact on the world. One’s success is the result of the full development of theirpotential. As humans, we owe it to ourselves and society to dig deep and discover who we are: passions, talents, wants, needs, and then make lifestyle choices based on those personaldiscoveries. Realizing ones’ capabilities is what defines our spirit and our contribution to the universe. By finding the balance between work and leisure, long-term success is possible. When one understands and uses that knowledge to “market” ones’ self, it results in an honest, educated, wholesome, and successful person.
What does beauty mean to you?
As many great writers such as Shakespeare and Benjamin Franklin have expressed, the perception of beauty is subjective. Never has there been a civilization on Earth that existed without some standard of beauty. While these standards have differed greatly over the years and across the seven seas, a common index of beauty is the harmony of proportion. This has been proven by developmental scientists that discovered humans’ innate ability to perceive the symmetry of the human face as a survival mechanism. Taking into account the evolving history and science behind beauty identification, the modern ideal of beauty, to me, is best encompassed by the concept of balance.
The concept of balance applies to the beauty industry on every level: from the products we use, to the techniques we practice. For example, the signs of a balanced diet and lifestyledefine our society’s standard of beauty: a well developed body, smooth and clear skin, glossy hair, bright eyes, good posture, alert facial expression, and positive outlook. I recognize and appreciate the beautiful balance in people who exude inner poise and outer radiance, because those two things are the result of a healthy and happy individual.
What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
One of my proudest accomplishments to date has been my decision to leave my home of Mount Desert Island, Maine after graduating high school in 2008 to study, live, and work in Louisiana. The reputably rich culture, employment opportunities, and combination of metropolitan and small-town societies is what led me to choose this state over others I was considering. The welcoming weather was simply a bonus. The transition from North to Southrepresented my search to become a more culturally fulfilled and learned person while experiencing a new place and meeting new people. My time in this state has allowed me to develop my socializing and networking abilities in a fast moving world. It has also helped me to appreciate my first home in Acadia as well as my new home in Acadiana. Personal and spiritual growth has ensued as a result of my decision to move here.
As a new year dawns, 2013, I find that I’m acutely aware of change: inner change, political change, social shifts and planetary change. With this sense of flux, I recognize my yearning for positive change in the form of wholeness and healing. This instinct has led to my most recent, and proudest, accomplishment: the decision to attend the Aveda Institute.
It’s been nearly three years that I’ve been out of school and working full time as a waitress. Fearing I was to become stuck in a profession and lifestyle that was less than fulfilling, I began to restlessly debate over what I could do in order to meet my financial needs while satisfying my creative side. Once discovering the Aveda Institutes, I visited the New Orleans campus in 2010 with prospects to attend for their esthiology program, but couldn’t find the motivation or money to make it happen at that time. It was within the last few months that I was reintroduced to the school, and whilst looking into the Lafayette campus, came back in touch with my passion. Feeling inspired, I claimed a renewed sense of faith in my God-given abilities and talents. As a result, I created a life vision that supported my short-term and long-term goals, specifically including the Aveda Institute of Lafayette as my link to a future career in the beauty industry.
How do you hope to contribute to the industry when you are finished with your training?
Upon completing the Aveda Institute’s esthiology program, I hope to contribute to the health, beauty, and wellness industry by performing skin care treatments based on Ayurvedic principles, practicing safe and effective techniques, blending the aspects of science and nature to create visual changes, all while enforcing a high standard of sustainability through the support of Aveda’s Environmental Commitment. I’m confident in my ability to achieve this goal because ofmy dedication to perfection within myself and this industry. Also, I know that Aveda will provide me the opportunity to develop my personality, professionalism, and salesmanship to the level that is vital for success.
It’s important for me to find a career within a business that understands the importance of utilizing natural and organic ingredients, holds the highest performance standards, and addresses the interconnectedness of the skin with all other organs and life processes (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual). My main focus throughout my skin care career will be healing versus concealing.
In the future, I would like to specifically address the younger (12-18 years) population by educating them about achieving health benefits through making positive changes in their lives, starting with self care and respect. By developing wellness skills for children and adolescents to use throughout their lives, I would be preventing and correcting health issues before they become irreversible. Expanding on my background in psychology, nutrition, and skin care, I want to incorporate the inner and outer aspects of beauty to create a business based on empowering young women.
I understand that Aveda will provide me with the tools I need to succeed as a licensed esthetician. My ultimate goal is to provide the most thorough and effective skin care for a developed client base by combining the knowledge I have gained through education and personal experience.
