 The Right Fit
Makeup and Esthetics grad finds her home at the Yorkville School
After graduating from high school, Rachael Tucker-Yhap embarked on what she thought would be the beginning of her career.
“I went to university to study Pharmaceutical Chemistry, like I was supposed to,” says the now 21-year-old. “It didn’t work out because it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I always knew I wanted to be working in makeup and esthetics.”
After deciding to pursue her dream, Rachael didn’t take long to decide where she would learn her craft.
“I had a friend who went to George Brown’s Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics, and she recommended it highly,” she says. “I didn’t take a tour. I signed up right away and started to take classes as soon as possible.”
That was in October of 2007. From that point on, Rachael began to complete the courses necessary to achieve both the Advanced Esthetics Certificate and the Professional Makeup Artist (Advanced) Certificate.
“You learn different things in all of the courses at Yorkville,” Rachael says. “But you’re constantly building on what you know. And, because everything is so hands-on, the repetition of the experience allows you to hone your skill.”
Despite being in school, Rachael began working as a freelance makeup artist (something she is still doing, when time permits) and found one course particularly helpful in that endeavour.
“The Business of Esthetics definitely helps you understand the practical side of the industry,” she says. “We all want to have this career, and many of us want to set up our own businesses. But, if left to our own devices, we might overlook the practical. That course makes sure students don’t do that.”
The curriculum wasn’t the only advantage of being at the Yorkville School.
“Our teachers are still working in the field, so their skills aren’t stale and, of course, they’re up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques,” Rachael says. “And they all care. Even teachers who may not have you as a student know your name and are there to help you. It’s very motivating!”
Rachael was also motivated by the volunteer opportunities the school arranged for her. While she was in school, Rachael gained valuable industry experience by working with HBO, Discovery Health, the Comedy Network and the CBC – and her teachers definitely noticed her performance.
Almost as soon as she completed her certificates in July 2008, Rachael accepted a position at the Yorkville School – assisting teachers and helping students do client makeup. But that wasn’t the extent of her experience at George Brown.
“We do a photo shoot at the end of every course at the school, so I thought taking photography courses would be a natural extension of what I had learned in makeup and esthetics,” she says. “To me, the more you see, the more you want to know.”
At this point, Rachael has completed both Digital Photography I and Digital Photography II and is registered for Digital Photography III. And she’s already seen results.
“The photography courses have definitely helped with my makeup skills because I have a better understanding of what a photographer is looking for, what look works with what light and a number of other things,” she says. “Best of all, a friend hired me to be a photographer’s assistant, and I’ll get to do makeup as well. For me, it’s the best of both worlds.”
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