Jason Tate is a cosmetology student at Cerritos College, and he is heralded by instructors as one of the best students.

His sister, a graduate of Cerritos College, introduced him to the art of hair styling.

“My sister graduated from Cerritos and she now owns her own salon,” Tate said.

Tate is a first-year student, and has been attending Cerritos College for just five months.

“I still have five to six months left here,” Tate said.

Tate has had experience with cosmetology even before attending Cerritos College.

“I worked for a salon in Beverly Hills called Jonathan’s for a time, as an apprentice,” he said.

The salon offered him hands-on training.

The salon owner also had a show, “Blowout,” on the television network, Bravo, while Tate was still an apprentice.

“The salon closed before I could finish my apprenticeship,” Tate said.

Tate dreams of owning his own salon once he obtains his degree, focusing mainly on hair styling.

“Since my sister introduced me to hair styling, its been my passion,” Tate said.

Tate was studying cosmetology theory during his apprenticeship, but the salon closed down before he could finish.

Jeanne Johnson, cosmetology instructor, said, “Tate has a lot of experience from working with Jonathan’s, and he is also a very charismatic person. He has great people skills, and in this field, its a must.”

“I love every aspect of what I do, but its the atmosphere and the people that I love most,” he said.

Tate was a former trainee firefighter, but he had to quit his training due to a back injury.

“It hurt, but I have found a new passion, and that is hairstyling,” Tate said.

Tate is very focused on his career, and he dreams of owning a salon in the Los Angeles or Orange County areas.

“He is also very technical and he is also a perfectionist, wanting to do his very best every time, and that is what makes him so good at what he does. He strives to accomplish his best,” Johnson said.

Tate is one of the best students to come from Cerritos in a few years, she said.

“Jason has the potential ability, the drive and the determination to be a very successful stylist. He is very focused on his dream,” Johnson said.

Jason has been styling for three years and he worked for Jonathan’s for about two years before it closed down.