We were lucky to catch up with Nia Scott recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Nia with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
All praise for my work ethic stems from my parents. My first representations of hard work and resiliency come from my Mother and Father and I could not be more grateful for what they have instilled in me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to better manage my time and that leads me to piling quite a few things on my plate. I am a full-time college student at Cleveland State University majoring in Business Studies, I am a full-time Makeup Artist and Instructor at The Makeup Institute, and I am beginning my first season as a coach volunteering with Girls on The Run Northeast OH. I know that good things do not come to you, they are earned, and it’s very important to me to put the work in now so I can see the success of my work and sacrifices in the future. I know this may sound like a lot that I have going on, however, if it were easy everyone would be doing it.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a MUA, I can truly say the most rewarding part of my profession is helping women find a new sense of beauty. I’ve serviced clients who are in their thirties or forties and have never had their makeup done. With my craft, I’ve assisted in women seeing themselves in new lights and discovering a new fuel to light their self-confidence. This also goes hand in hand with my leadership as an instructor at The Makeup Institute, leading the next generation of artists into perfecting their craft. I am an integral part to the beginning of their artistry journey and it is one of the greatest honors I’ve held in my career so far.
I still like to keep my options open in terms of my future and my career, which is why I am in the process of finishing Undergrad at CSU. When I first started school I thought I wanted to study Criminology, but, because my heart was not truly in it I ended up taking a few semesters off. I understand it was all part of my larger journey because within that break from school, I found my love for makeup and have some experience with running my own business. Going back to school was honestly one of the best choices I could have made and I really attribute that to my Dad, Aunt, and best friend who all brought about great points in continuing my education. I am definitely looking forward to graduating next Spring and celebrating this phase of my life …. until the next degree!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would definitely say professionalism, networking, and communication have been very instrumental in my journey. These are all areas that everyone can benefit from no matter what career path they choose. Professionalism simply resides in how you carry yourself and treat others, I know a lot of people complain about my generation lacking these skills but this is a skill that takes time to learn and perfect. Networking and communication go hand in hand with professionalism as well. Often times in life it is not about what you know but who you know. So many doors have been opened for me simply due to networking and it is something that I will continue to do. You cannot be afraid to talk to people. How can you expect someone to believe in you if you do not believe in yourself?
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I’m a Taurus and we are known for hating change and often times I can say I truly fall into this category. I understand that change is part of growth and growth is notoriously uncomfortable but it’s also annoying at times. I’m going to be twenty three this year and already am looking ahead the next three to five years of my life, which is hard because I’ll have a plan and then everything shifts within three months and I have to reevaluate. I would say that’s one of the biggest challenges currently, trying to figure out what my next major steps are without fully knowing what is coming around the corner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://niaalexandra.as.me/schedule.php
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nia.alexandra/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/niascottcle
