Former student Michele Broom returned to her old classroom to pass on her skills during employability week at Bath College, which gave students studying hair and beauty the chance to meet industry experts.
Activities included Hopi ear candling, eyelash extensions, ear piercing, nail art, Pilates, crystal therapy and threading.
Ms Broom, who runs Bath Stress Angels, showed students the basics of bamboo massage, a technique used to break down tension and stretch tight muscles.
She was in her forties when she decided to switch careers and enrol on a two year complementary therapies course at Bath College.
Fourteen years later, she is a qualified teacher and has her own business providing chair massage sessions for local companies.
Ms Broom said: “I took a gap year at the age of 40 and then went back into education. I was a fundraiser before and I was in sales.
“I became ill, took a year off and I thought ‘I will stop working at the sharp end and do something that feeds my soul rather than my bank account’.
“It’s great to be back at the college. It’s a privilege, that’s the word. You have an empathy with the students because you’ve been in their position.
“I’m so impressed because they picked it up just like that.”
During the week, students met industry experts from Eve Taylor, Eden Rose Salon, MAC Cosmetics and Centre Parcs.
They spoke to Celia Stewart, from Neal’s Yard Remedies, as well as employees from Lush, Younique and Hacketts, Bath.
Bath College lecturer Diana Rowe taught Ms Broom when she started studying in 2002.
She said: “What’s really nice about Michele coming back is that she’s bringing something new to us. It’s really nice to have things go full circle and have her teaching my students.
“We come across a lot of our ex-students. It’s lovely when they come back and teach us their skills – it’s the ultimate compliment.”
Jolene Garside, salon manager at Bath College, said: “It’s been great really because we’ve had so many really experienced and qualified people in.
“The students meet people from a lot of different companies who are working in industry. The skills that they show them are fantastic.
“It’s a great chance to increase your knowledge.”
