Suzanna sets her career sights high

Many school-leavers, set their sights beyond their city limits, but Pasadena woman Susanna has been engaged in a globe-trotting odessey, in search of the finest training in her chosen career. Susanna excelled in High School, graduating a year before most of her peers.

She made the most of her years in education — helping to establish a recycling system and volunteering for civic projects, like the KWANIS club, which involved assisting at a local Elementary School. Susanna’s community responsibilities also included two summer’s placements at St. Joseph’s hospital, where she assisted in both the Medical Records section, as well as triage in the busy Emergency Room.

After graduation, she traveled to Taiwan, where she spent ten months learning to read and write Chinese, before returning to Pasadena Community College, where her career plans began to take shape. ‘I studied Herbal Medicine at Trinity College for two years, whilst working as a receptionist for an Insurance Agency,’ she explains. ‘It was then that I decided to go into Beauty Therapy and registered at the Lillian Maund Centre in England.’

Whilst the salon side of Westgate House is of most interest to local people the Lillian Maund Training Centre has been established for more than 30 years, and has achieved a world-wide reputation for producing highly skilled therapists though its unique approach to training. Each intake of students usually includes some who have travelled great distances to experience Lillian Maund training. Californian Susanna Lin, is amongst the current intake and typifies the modern Lillian Maund student.

‘After studying here, I would like to work for a year of so, then travel to Japan, to get to know how they approach beauty training, to get the Asian aspect of being a beautician,’ Susanna says. She plans to use her travel to widen her horizons before eventually establishing her own salon. ‘I would like to travel the world for a few years, so I can meet different people and get to know their cultures — expanding my outlook on life. When I eventually open a salon of my own, I want to be able to offer people the very best service!’

Many students find Lillian Maund training is a passport to a more exotic life, some are fortunate to travel as part of their training, and many former students gained their first taste of travel accompanying Mrs. Maund on professional engagements to America, India or the Far and Middle East. A larger number have found jobs abroad, either teaching in beauty schools or working in salons, or on cruise ships, which is an expanding area of the beauty business.

Courses at Westgate House place a great emphasis on practical skills, preparing graduates for employment. Workplace training is a key element, with all students undertaking client-based training. Classes in the modern practical and theory tutorial rooms have a small tutor-student ratio and enjoy a wide range of teaching resources, with an extensive video library.

Many students study on a residential basis, enjoying a high standard of accommodation within Westgate House’s study bedrooms, and the centre offers guardianship accommodation for younger students.