Jada Callahan: Career and College Promise Success
Jada Callahan, a 2024 graduate of Crest High School, found her passion in a class she took just for fun. Through the Career and College Promise (CCP) program, Jada registered for a Cosmetology class at Cleveland Community College without having to pay college tuition. The CCP program offers qualifying high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college classes, and possibly extend through the summer term after high school.
“Growing up I was super girly and loved bows, but I never thought this was what I’d do,” she shared. “Now I don’t see myself doing anything else.”
Like many high school students, Jada hadn’t thought much about what she wanted to do after high school, and her grades weren’t the best. When she learned that she qualified for CCC’s Cosmetology program, she decided to give it a try. She thought it was going to be just a fun program—doing hair and nails—but she quickly learned that even the fun college-level classes require work.
“It’s a lot to do both,” she explained. “You have to have the right mindset and push through it.” She credits her instructors for encouraging and pushing her to keep going. Jada’s journey began in her junior year, continued through her senior year and the summer term, and wrapped up with an additional eight weeks in the fall.
For Jada, the transition from high school to college-level cosmetology classes was transformative. In high school Jada didn’t participate in class much, but in her college classes, she found her voice. She learned to speak up, participate in hands-on experiences, and ask questions. “It helped me grow up and focus on my future.”
After completing her 1,500 hours of training, she is now working as an assistant at Dye Pretty while preparing for her state board exams—both practical and written.
“The total cost of the program was less than $600,” Jada noted. The kit she used cost $480, and she invested in extra supplies to complement it. While her fall semester class cost $550, Jada received a $500 scholarship, leaving her to pay just $50 out of pocket.
Her advice to other high school students considering a dual program like hers is straightforward: “Mindset is everything. You have to buckle down and commit. If you really want it and put in the effort, you can make it happen.”