Meet Amanda Newton, 26, licensed cosmetologist at Studio A Hair Salon in Petal.

As a cosmetologist, Newton performs color/highlights, cuts, shampooing, styling, facial waxing, hair extensions and makeup.

Newton graduated from Petal High School in 2006, and received her cosmetology license from the Academy of Hair Design in 2011.

She lives in Seminary with her boyfriend, Ricky; 6-year-old son, Talyn; and dog, Buddy.

What advice would you give people who want to get into the same line of work as you? I would say that staying positive and focused on your goal is key to making something of yourself.

Many people who attend cosmetology school expect to graduate and immediately start making all the money they need, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Having a steady and reliable clientele can take years to build, so try to not get discouraged at first.

Everyone was once where you are, and anything worth having takes patience. Hard work will always pay off.

I worked late nights bartending while I was in hair school just to afford daycare during the day. Yes, it was occasionally exhausting, but times won’t always be hard as long as you continue working hard during them. Giving up is the only thing that will keep you from success.

Why did you choose to live and work in the Pine Belt? Deciding to work in Petal was originally a business decision after living in Hattiesburg for seven years. I grew up in Petal, and I knew the majority of my clientele would be from here. I wanted to make my clients’ experience as pleasant as possible, which included making it a shorter drive to the salon for them.

I also love everything that this city stands for. It’s the type of place that if you ever needed a helping hand, there is always someone there. It’s nice to work somewhere that has a lot of good people, and one of them would be (owner) Ali Frye.

She is one of the friendliest and caring people you could ever meet, and I’m beyond blessed to be in the same salon with her.

What do you do in your free time? I enjoy spending my free time with family and friends. I try not to take those moments for granted because they can be hard to come by these days.

We love taking trips any time we can, whether to the beach or just the zoo.

Most of my time is spent at home with Talyn and Ricky engaging in activities outside with them — from baseball, bow and arrows, BB guns or swimming.

Painting has always been my favorite hobby. It’s something that my son and I enjoy doing together. He loves seeing our finished art hung around the house.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why? If I had the chance to meet anyone, it would be my grandparents, Harvey and Venice West.

They were no longer living when I was born, but from what I’ve been told, my grandfather was an extremely smart and successful businessman and my grandmother was a beautiful woman with a heart of gold.

If you could go back 10 years and give a younger you tips or advice on life, work or anything in general, what would it be? I would simply say, “Never let anything stop you from getting where you want to be. And everything will always be OK.

“There will be obstacles to come but with faith in God, anything can be done.”

Haskel Burns, staff writer

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