Annabelle “Annie” Erion, a senior from Byron-Bergen Central School District, recently reached a major milestone by completing 1,000 hours in the Cosmetology program at the Batavia CTE Center. She finished earlier than any student in recent memory, marking the moment with pride, relief, and excitement.
“I’ve really been looking forward to this for a while,” Annie said. “It feels amazing to know I’ve completed my hours and can start working in the field I love.”
Her motivation was simple: get a head start on her career. Annie didn’t just want to graduate with hours completed—she wanted to start working as soon as possible, and she did exactly that. Just before reaching her milestone, she landed a position as an assistant at Jagged Edges Salon in Batavia and officially started work in April.
“I really wanted to be in a salon environment,” she said. “Getting the job before I even finished my hours was a huge boost. Starting work while still wrapping up my hours gave me the chance to get hands-on experience right away, which has been really exciting.”
To reach 1,000 hours so quickly, Annie maintained a packed but consistent weekly schedule. She left her home school after second period each day and headed straight to the CTE Center, then often continued on to the salon. She also practiced at home to reinforce skills and stay sharp.
“I spent a lot of time reviewing and practicing outside of class,” she said. “That, plus the salon experience, really helped me stay focused and motivated.”
There wasn’t a single “aha” moment when Annie realized she could finish early—it was more of a steady realization. “I started noticing I was ahead of schedule,” she said. “It wasn’t about comparing myself to anyone else; I just saw that the extra work was paying off. That motivated me to keep going.”
Like any ambitious student, Annie faced challenges, especially with self-motivation. “There were times I got down on myself, wondering if I could really do this. But once I saw how close I was, I pushed through.”
When asked what part of cosmetology she loves most, Annie didn’t hesitate: hair—especially color and cutting. “I love it all, except perms,” she laughed. “That’s the one thing I could live without.”
She credited her classmates and the stylists at Jagged Edges as a source of inspiration. “Watching the girls at the salon work made me realize how much I wanted to do this. And being around my classmates reminded me that we all have different learning curves, and that’s okay. We help each other grow.”
Her teacher, Chyle Castillo, was overjoyed by Annie’s accomplishment.
“I was ecstatic,” Castillo said. “I’ve had students come close—some finishing in mid to late May—but never someone reaching 1,000 hours this early in April. Annie worked very, very hard to make this happen.”
Castillo noted that Annie’s early completion speaks volumes about her work ethic and future in the field. “She’s already employed and thriving. She’s so attentive to her techniques—it’s clear that this work is important to her, and she excels at it.”
When asked what other students might take away from Annie’s journey, Castillo was clear: “This is proof that with the right mindset and time management, it’s absolutely achievable.”
Annie’s advice to younger students just starting out in cosmetology is both honest and encouraging. “There are going to be rough patches. Some people might not understand your pace or might even feel jealous,” she said. “But keep pushing. Once you hit your hours, it opens up so many possibilities.”
For now, Annie plans to stay at Jagged Edges, where she’s assisting with colors and blowouts. After graduation, she hopes to continue full-time and build her clientele from the ground up.
With 1,000 hours already under her belt, a job in the industry, and a passion for her craft, Annabelle Erion is well on her way.