Editor's note: University of Michigan junior Ellora Gupta is writing a regular summer series called "Passionate People." Her goal is to inspire others and her column will cover uplifting stories about Ann Arbor locals who are striving to achieve their goals and passions.

Shannon Hock knew what she was getting herself into by enrolling in the Douglas J. Aveda Institute.

At first, her friends and family criticized the decision to study cosmetology and esthiology; however now, with only weeks to go before her graduation, they are far more supportive.

“My father was cautious at first,” said Hock. “But then he told me to go to the best beauty school and be the best, if this is really my passion.”

Starting at a young age, Hock knew she had a talent and passion for cosmetology. Her mother was her first influence since she was a barber and had experience with modeling. That inspired Hock to pursue her own sense of style, starting during her middle school years.

“I hit that time when I wanted to be attractive to boys. I’d bike to the drug store and look at models in magazines and I would think about how to get my hair like that and my face like that,” she said. “When I was in middle school, I had a full face of makeup on and it was very well applied.”

Even though she truly loved styling her hair and applying her own makeup, Hock never considered doing either as a career. Having grown up in a family where college education was extremely important, she decided to pursue other areas of interest instead. She attended Hillsdale College, a private Christian school, and received a degree in classics with a minor in psychology.

“My father saved up to send me to school. While I was there, I felt like this is what I had to do even though I couldn’t find anything I was super interested in,” she said.

Looking back on her time in college, Hock realized that her passion for cosmetology never truly disappeared. It was subtly embedded in her other interests, particularly her love of the classical studies courses she took at Hillsdale College.

“I was always fascinated by the early Greeks because they were dedicated to the beautification of people and the ideal human physique,” said Hock, a self-proclaimed visual person and perfectionist.

Despite graduating with honors, Hock had difficulty finding a job. Inspired by her interest in helping people and experience volunteering at a nursing home, she decided to pursue a degree in nursing through the University of Michigan’s Second Career Nursing Program. Far from enjoying this, however, Hock felt swamped with work and disliked most of her classes. It was during this time that she found an outlet through cosmetology.

“I hated all my classes, especially anatomy. When I got stressed out, I would calm myself down by cutting or highlighting my hair,” she said.

This made Hock realize that nursing was not the right career path for her. She left the program before completion and decided to pursue her passion: cosmetology. While researching various beauty schools and programs, she came across the Douglas J. Aveda Institute. She was attracted to its upscale reputation and products. However, when Hock made the decision to attend the school, she received a lot of negative feedback from friends and family.

“People viewed it like a lowly job,” she said. “They think you don’t need a college education. They looked down upon it and thought it was a waste.” She said that cosmetology conjured images of a tacky woman with a raspy voice, who smokes cigarettes and uses too much hairspray.

Hock said that at first, her father opposed her decision because he had paid for her education at a private college.

“People have cosmetologists,” she rationalized. “Just like people need a dentist for their teeth and an eye doctor for their eyes.”

Eventually it became clear that Hock was truly excited about her job - and convinced her friends and family that pursuing cosmetology at the Aveda Institute was right for her. Her father was further convinced when she added some low-lights to cover up his gray hair.

“I took ten years off him,” she said. “I think he really appreciated it.”

When Hock started to take appointments, three months into the program, she was extremely nervous. However, she said constructive criticism and feedback from the instructors and the positive comments from guests developed her confidence.

“It wasn’t until about two months ago that everything started to click,” said Hock. “And you start getting people who come back to you. That makes you feel good about what you’re doing.”

Now, less than three weeks before graduation, Hock's happy with her future career.

“Each person is like my own little piece of art. I like to look at somebody and decide how to give them the most flattering haircut for their features,” she said. “I see how they can accentuate what they already have.”

After graduation, Hock hopes to find a job at a salon in Ann Arbor. To her, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing clients who have been transformed by her haircuts.

“I feel like so much about how someone carries themselves is how their appearance is,” said Hock. “I love when someone walks out of my chair with a new walk. I get a little thrill.”

Ellora Gupta is a junior at the University of Michigan with a strong interest in passionate people. If you want to share your passions or the passions of others, please contact her at egupta@umich.edu.