Avellon Williams
KINGSTON, JAMAICA- Having gone from a roadside hairdresser to a budding entrepreneur to winning a scholarship and attending university, Megan Holung, 21, is celebrating her accomplishments and triumphs over the odds.
Holung said the loss of her father, the family’s breadwinner, lowered the family’s income, which caused her to tap into her creative side to support her family.
The Clarendon High School graduate has completed the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE), a total of 17 subjects. She recalls braiding along the roadside in May Pen in her teenage years from a low point in her life.
“After my father died, my mother was forced to live on the streets of May Pen, selling fish from an igloo to support the family. She had no choice,” she said.
Holung described her mother’s vending journey as lengthy and arduous, and her choice to assist was prompted by the fact that funds were still low.
Nevertheless, that decision led to a pool of ridicule, since she left a “top school” to pursue a career as a roadside hairdresser.
“That year included a mixture of bittersweet emotions because even though I had individuals that were extremely proud of me, I still endured ridicule from some of my schoolmates for doing hair on the roadside.”
“I endured unyielding hardships, walking and begging people to plug in my kettle to complete the braids,” she said.
She remained unfazed by the criticism, however, as she had a goal in mind.
My schoolmates tried to deter me with comments such as “Dunce she dunce mek she a do hair pan roadside’, and “She leave Glenmuir fi turn roadside braider’ from my schoolmates tried to deter me, but went in vain as I knew what I wanted,” a confident Holung said.
In the absence of a long-awaited scholarship, Holung needed to earn an income to survive.
“Those who made the comments couldn’t pay my tuition or assist my younger brothers. My strong mind armed me with the strength I needed in order to help my mother and better myself. I graduated as an outstanding achiever, so their comments were merely small talk,” she explained.
A PROUD VENTURE
Holing launched her business, Braids by Meg, in 2018; a venture she is proud of and commends herself for taking the step.
“I needed a business that would require little to no start-up capital, so I decided to enter the hair industry where all I needed were my hands, God, and a few products.”
Even though she remained doubtful as to people’s skepticism about getting their hair serviced by the roadside, she continued with her venture and was enthused to see her clientele grow over time.
“People stopped to ask about my work and schedule appointments.. When I was in my first year at college and I was living in the dorm, that’s when my business took off, going from overlooked to overbooked,” said an ecstatic Holung.
Currently, Holung is a final-year student at The University of the West Indies. She is studying tourism management and management studies. In addition to being named among scholars to the Dean’s List for the faculty of social sciences in 2021, she is also a full-time student-athlete. In balancing work and school, she said that her family was her greatest support system.
While referring to the naysayers and those that claim her cosmetology skills are mediocre, Holung maintains that having a skill offers benefits other than being self-employed.
“Skills provide an opportunity for personal growth since they are based on experiences that any teacher cannot give.”
No matter what work you end up doing, your employer will expect you to have a strong work ethic and professionalism, which I developed over the years, dealing with clients of different personalities every day,” she explained.
According to Holing, her business has given her independence and a better life for her family.
“Having gone to school without lunch money and no one knowing, I am now helping my mother send my younger brothers to school.”
“I have a long way to go, but I am proud of my accomplishments as a woman and business owner thus far,” Holung said.
“I live by the motto ‘God business, good business’ because it only took patience and God’s grace.”
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