HCC Nail Technician students deliver manicures, smiles to Attucks Middle School girls

When Houston City College (HCC) Nail Technician student Roslyn George attended middle school a few years ago, she recalled desiring to get her fingernails polished like some of the girls she saw in her classroom. 

HCC Nail Technician program student Roslyn George gives a manicure to an Attucks Middle School student. “My family wasn’t financially stable, and my mom couldn’t afford even something as simple as this to make myself feel good,” said George. “Now that I’m older, I hope to give back to the young girls and teenagers in my community and help them feel confident and good about themselves.”

She embraced that opportunity during a community outreach event organized through a collaboration between HCC Central, the HCC Cosmetology Department and Attucks STEAM Academy. During the event, George and her classmates volunteered their time and skills to provide manicures and nail polish services to young girls, helping them feel special, confident and appreciated.

The idea came about after STEAM Magnet Coordinator Tanya Moore shared the school was planning both Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day events to encourage students and provide resources for them to succeed academically. As a result, the nail technicians were invited to participate in the ‘Let’s Talk Sis: Ignite Your Power!’ event. 

“The idea of having an event specifically designed to celebrate and empower them made the experience particularly meaningful,” Moore said. “For many of our students, opportunities such as this are not always readily available. Knowing that individuals and community partners were willing to dedicate their time and resources to making them feel special reinforced an important message: They are worthy of being celebrated and invested in.”

HCC Central Community Outreach Coordinator Kemberlie Spivey expressed partnerships with middle schools are important because it allows HCC to introduce younger students to college opportunities at an early age and show them that there are different pathways to success beyond what they know.

Sixth-grade Attucks Middle School student Amari Edmonds smiles while receiving a manicure during the school’s Girls Day event. “We want younger students to understand that college is an attainable goal and that HCC provides opportunities for them to explore their interests, develop skills, and begin thinking about their futures,” Spivey said. “Through hands-on experiences like our Nail Technology program participating in Girls Day, students get the opportunity to interact with college students, learn about career-focused programs and see firsthand what HCC has to offer.”

Moore mentioned middle school is a critical time in a young girl's development where they begin establishing their identity, navigate friendships, and develop confidence in themselves.  She expressed the event was more than a day of pampering.

“For many of our students, opportunities such as this are not always readily available,” Moore said. “Knowing that individuals and community partners were willing to dedicate their time and resources to making them feel special reinforced an important message – they are worthy of being celebrated and invested in.”

Staring at her newly pink-colored fingernails, 11-year-old Amari Edmonds revealed a wide smile and rushed to show her classmates.

“Pink is my favorite color,” the sixth-grade Attucks student said. “This was my first manicure, and I feel so pretty.”

Seventh-grader Kemoni Smothers chose glitter for her manicure and complimented HCC Nail Technician student Mallori Rojas. “The lady who did my nails was so nice,” said 12-year-old Smothers. “She made me feel comfortable and asked me what color I wanted, so I told her pink with glitter.”

For Rojas, the time spent putting smiles on girls’ faces meant a lot.

Seventh-grade Attucks Middle School student Kemoni Smither displays her manicured and polished nails during the school’s Girls Day event. “Interacting with the girls was such a rewarding and heartwarming experience,” she said. “Seeing their excitement, smiles and confidence grow as they got their nails done reminded me that sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference.”

At the conclusion of the event, Rojas felt inspired to continue to give back to young girls in underserved communities, like where she came from.

“I hope that by showing up for these girls, we helped remind them that they are important, valued and deserving of opportunities to feel confident in themselves,” she said. “I would love to continue participating in events like this and use my passion for nails to encourage, uplift and inspire other young girls.”