By CASEY NEILL
LISA Arena signed up for a beauty course to finally do something for herself.
The Springvale 41-year-old left school to work at her parents’ business.
“So then I got married, had my family and helped my husband and his business,” she said.
“I was just at the stage of my life where I wanted to do something for myself.
“I’m actually loving it more than I thought I would.”
Going back to school wasn’t an easy decision to make.
“It was more a question as to would I be able to do it,” she said.
“Whether I could balance everything – family, kids, house.
“That was biggest worry.”
Ms Arena is not only managing the juggle, she’s excelling. She won the Certificate III in Beauty category at last month’s Hair and Beauty Industry Association (HBIA) Awards.
She was nominated for her proven skill and extraordinary commitment to their training.
“I actually was very excited, very humbled,” she said.
As were her three sons and husband.
“They’ve all been extremely supportive,” she said.
“They won’t be models for me though!”
Ms Arena, who started her Certificate III course at Chisholm Institute in Dandenong in January this year, is now working her way through Certificate IV and might stay on to do a diploma.
She hopes to gain as much experience as possible and then open her own business covering all beauty services.
“I want to be able to do it all,” she said.
“I’m just enjoying it all.
“We’re never too old to learn and to follow our dreams.
“It’s never too late.”
