Since childhood, creativity has been an outlet for Jaycee Park’s imagination and ideas. But when life tested her strength, her creativity shifted, leading her on a path that brought her full circle back to her passion.
While most teenagers envision a typical high school experience, Jaycee spent her nights in and out of hospitals, fighting for a future doctors deemed uncertain. She underwent a five-organ transplant in an effort to save her life.
Despite balancing her teenage years with her medical journey, Jaycee refused to let her circumstances limit her. Knowing her time wasn’t promised, she used social media to connect with others going through similar experiences. She shared her transplant journey from beginning to recovery, giving others a glimpse into her life.
Her time in the hospital made her consider a career in medicine, inspired by the doctors who helped save her life. But after meeting another patient at the hospital with a love for cosmetology, a new curiosity was sparked. As they grew closer, Jaycee’s content shifted from documenting her recovery to becoming a new space for her creativity to breathe again.
When she returned to high school, a new opportunity to join the Camden County College Cosmetology (CCC) Program presented itself. She found herself torn between two outcomes. Medicine represented a path shaped through lived experiences, and cosmetology represented a path shaped by her renewed love for creative expression.
Unsure which direction to take, she spoke to her mom and decided to enter the program to save for medical school. Little did she know that this choice would shape a new future for her, and the program would later become a place where her love for art and desire to help others heal came together.
As part of CCC’s first cosmetology class, Jaycee and her classmates shaped the early flow of the program. With little hands-on experience, each class pushed her to grow and trust in her abilities. Jaycee showed up to each class with a mindset glued to success.
“You have to show up for yourself,” she states, “Discipline is everything. If you want to be successful, you have to work for it.”
She viewed each lesson as a stepping stone toward her future and soon realized that, like doctors, cosmetologists can help make a difference in others’ lives through creativity rather than medicine.
“I tried to stay present in cosmetology school so that when I made it out, I knew exactly what to do,” she continues, “The program prepares you for the real world. Your hand won’t be held out there.”
Since graduation, Jaycee has continued creating content online and works in the bridal industry. Although she enjoys making brides feel beautiful on their big day, her sights are set on the TV and film industry, where she hopes to one day merge her love for creation with storytelling.
Jaycee’s story reminds us that when life shifts our rhythm, new opportunities can lead us back to our true selves. Her journey shows how dedication, resilience, and passion can reconnect us to the center of who we are.
