One of the most rewarding parts of what we do at EMA is seeing our students leave college with the confidence, independence and skills to find the futures they want. For Keenan, that future is in the beauty industry, where he has turned a personal hobby into the beginnings of his own acrylic nail business – ‘Set In Stone’
Like many young people, Keenan wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to do when he first joined EMA. Through encouragement from staff, opportunities to explore his interests and support to build his confidence, he discovered a passion that has become the foundation for his future career.
“I chose nails because I loved doing my own nails. I decided I might want to do nails because I was advised by my Tutor at EMA, Shannon, to work in an industry that I already enjoyed as a hobby.” – Keenan
By recognising something he genuinely enjoyed and exploring it further, Keenan found a career path that motivates him and gives him the opportunity to be creative while working towards financial independence.
Keenan credits EMA, charity with helping him develop not only the practical skills to begin his journey, but also the confidence too.
“EMA motivated me to get out of bed and be proactive. It helped me become more independent and gave me the confidence to take the steps to get help and find out where I could go next. I was also supported to find the SAMEE charity so I could pursue my dream.”
At EMA, our aim is to help every student discover their strengths and build the confidence to move towards adulthood, employment or further training. For Keenan, this meant exploring his interests, accessing specialist training and being connected with organisations that could help him continue his journey beyond college.
Our Careers Lead, and Keenan’s former Tutor Shannon reflects on just how far Keenan has come:
“From my perspective, Keenan has absolutely flourished since finding his passion for nails. I often say to him that if we look back to his transition visits to EMA, he was under an umbrella, hiding from the sun and not wanting to talk. Now Keenan will confidently speak to new people, clients, and has a motivation to keep him going. I am so proud of Keenan for all he continues to achieve and grateful we were able to help him find his way to his next steps.” – Shannon, Careers Lead at EMA
Looking Ahead…
Keenan has big ambitions for the future of his business!
“I want to be fully up and running in the next year, build my portfolio and work in a salon more days a week. I want a business that motivates me, makes me feel happy and encourages me to always do better in creative ways. I want to push my passion further and explore more creative ideas. I don’t want it to kill my vibe!”
It’s this combination of ambition, creativity and enthusiasm that will no doubt continue to drive Keenan as his business grows, and he hopes his story will encourage other students to make the most of the support available while they’re at EMA, sharing a few words for anyone who is currently with us, or new students joining in September.
“Don’t be afraid to ask – everything is worth a shot while you have the help from EMA, which is excellent. It’s better to start thinking about what you want to do now so you can change your mind, explore different ideas and see the options available. You can have someone help you look at those ideas without judgement.”
Keenan’s journey is a wonderful example of what can happen when a young person discovers a passion, receives the right support and has the confidence to pursue it. We’re incredibly proud of everything he has achieved so far and can’t wait to see where his business takes him next.
Keenan has set up an instagram page for their work, and you can find it here! https://www.instagram.com/setinstonenails
