RCC’s free back-to-school haircut drive a major success
Barber students at Robeson Community College had quite the week providing back-to-school haircuts to almost 200 local students of all ages from the community.
“This was the best year yet,” exclaimed Terry Jackson, the director of the COMtech location in Pembroke, where the RCC Barber Shop is housed. “We provided 190 haircuts, many to elementary school children in the area.”
For perspective, in 2023, students provided 160 haircuts. With 190 haircuts this year, students saw approximately a 20% increase in foot traffic.
“The barber students were nervous, but they enjoyed the learning process,” Jackson said. “At times it was challenging and tiresome, but as the students got more familiar with working in a fast-paced environment, they were able to start enjoying the opportunity and become more comfortable and build confidence in their abilities.”
The experience had its share of teachable moments.
“They had to learn how to cut hair on kids who didn’t want a haircut, some were squirming, and so they had to learn how to deal with that and get them smiling, which is something they will have to do when they are working in the industry,” Jackson said. “And, they had to learn how to work together as a group of barbers and how to work around each other’s breaks.”
With RCC barber students giving back to the community, one restaurant took notice and wanted to do something to show their appreciation to the students who had worked so hard all week long.
“The Wing Company saw we were doing this for back-to-school, and they provided lunch to all the barber students for all their hard work,” Jackson said. “Our students got to eat something quickly and it was a great treat.”
“We very much appreciated The Wing Company and their willingness to provide lunch to the Barber students and recognizing their service to the students going back to school,” Jackson said. “It was a generous gesture, and we thank them for providing us with a great meal.”
Jackson also thanks the community for their show of support.
“The community was awesome this year and we really appreciate them coming to support us,” Jackson stated. “The barber students were glad to have the kids come out and allow us the opportunity to provide back-to-school haircuts.”
To learn more about the barbering program at Robeson Community College, as well as the COMtech location in Pembroke, visit www.robeson.edu/comtech.
