2002 Essay Contest Entry Archive

2002 Essay Contest Entry Archive
"Why I Became a Groomer" or
"Why I Want to Become A Groomer"

Why I became a groomer doesn't seem that important to me now. Why I went back to grooming is what keeps me appreciating my job day after day.

Several years ago, one of my girlfriends owned a pet shop, and wanted to offer the services of a groomer to her customers. She kept telling me that I would be perfect for the job, since I loved animals, was artistic, and liked styling hair. She had faith that it was a perfect match. My family agreed with her, and I moved to Chicago to apprentice under Romaine Michelle, a world champion groomer. I thought training one on one was the best way for me to learn. I learned so much, the experience was great, and within a year I was back to my hometown grooming dogs in my friend's pet shop.

I got busier and busier. Eventually, I moved out of her store and into my own small shop. I was only 25 was running my own business! A dream for most anyone…and things were great until I was offered a corporate job at a Fortune 500 company. I was young and foolish, and thought the grass was greener on the other side, with health benefits and a 401K. I thought that I was done with the hair, the barking and the no-show clients, and wanted to trade that for an office position. Silly me!

Within 5 years, I was so unhappy. I didn't realize I would have to claw my way up the corporate ladder, have office politics to deal with, and no recognition whatsoever. Worst of all, my hard work was not benefiting me at all; it was only benefiting someone else!
Then came the day that changed my life forever. December 20, 2001. I was headed to the hospital for a minor ovarian cyst removal, was told it was nothing serious. I woke up afterwards to find that my tumors had been malignant, and in order to stop the cancer, my surgeon had performed a complete hysterectomy. It was devastating, and very scary, to say the least. In the weeks following my surgery, I learned that the cancer had not spread, and I was going to be one of the few lucky survivors. From a near tragedy, came a miracle. I vowed then to stop wasting time on things that did not give me joy.

As soon as my recovery was complete, I immediately quit my job as a business analyst and went to see my old friend with the pet shop. I knew I could always return to grooming. It was at least a 50% reduction in my paycheck, but I didn't care. I didn't want to ever feel like I was wasting my life away again. I groomed for a couple months in the store she was managing at the time, and was so thrilled to be working with dogs again, I was angry at myself for ever closing my own shop. What had I been thinking?
While I was working there, a second miracle came my way…there was an ad in the newspaper for someone to take over a local grooming shop FOR FREE! The owner had some health problems, and was forced to close her shop intermittently for a year, and now had to finally give up grooming for good. She wanted someone who loved animals to keep her shop going, all I had to do was take over the bills. She left me some equipment, her clients, and this awesome opportunity that was way more than I had ever hoped for.

I now have the best job ever, again! I get to spend my day working for myself, which is extremely rewarding, and I get to be with dogs all day long. It is hard work, and I put in many hours, but it doesn't seem like work at all. I can hardly describe the feeling that I have when people tell me that their dog has never looked cuter (some think I am better than the previous owner!) I recently received a thank you card in the mail from Missy the Shih Tzu telling me she liked her haircut. It is such a thrill. I am finally getting the recognition that I was missing working for someone else. I also feel like I am making a small difference in the lives of the pet and their owner. I am honored that my clients trust me with their best friend, and do not need to worry about the way their dog will be treated when in my care. To many of my clients (and myself), their pet is like a child to them, and I treat them the way I would want my dog to be treated.

One of my favorite customers is a nine-year-old lab named Mocha who has battled cancer, just like me. Her owner loves her dearly, and didn't feel comfortable leaving her with just anyone. Mocha and I hit it off instantly. Her owner couldn't believe how much Mocha liked me. After her first appointment with me, she told me that after visiting several other grooming shops, I was "heaven sent."

This is the way I feel about my job. From my years of unhappiness at corporate jobs, to my battle with cancer, I try to only count my blessings. Before that fateful day in the hospital, I would have never dreamed to be back grooming again, and to be so lucky to have another opportunity to work with dogs. Grooming, for me, is truly heaven sent.