Many high school students are still undecided about their future careers, but Irvin Morales isn’t one of them.
“At 15, I already knew I wanted to be a barber,” Morales said while his friend and client Joey Maldonado settled into the barber chair. “He wants to keep his hair in the back. He wants a mullet.”
Morales, who will graduate high school this year, is also working towards his barber’s license as an apprentice.
“I’m pursuing this to improve my life,” Morales explained. “I don’t want to follow the same path as my family. I want a better job so that when I have kids, they can grow up in a better environment.”
His ultimate dream is to establish his own barber shop one day.
“When I see people smiling, it motivates me to keep going,” Morales said with a smile of his own. “I enjoy seeing that they’re happy with my work.”
Despite his youth, Morales possesses an old soul.
“As a barber, I get to hear people’s perspectives from all walks of life,” Morales shared. “It makes me feel connected.”
Being a barber is both an art and a form of therapy.
“I genuinely care about people and their stories,” Morales expressed. “It’s tough knowing I can’t do more than offer words of advice…and a good haircut.”
Friend Devon Jacobs attested that Morales has cut his hair countless times, each session ending with a satisfied grin.
“They immediately light up and can’t help but smile,” Morales said, handing Jacobs the mirror. “Their happiness is contagious!”
