Mackenzie Borgogni, @mackenzieborgoni, Arrojo Cosmetology School, Jersey City, NJ

An “early bloomer” when it comes to beauty, Mackenzie rocked purple eye shadow in the fifth grade and enjoyed doing hair and make-up for her high school drill team. But friends told her to abandon her beauty career dreams, advising she wouldn’t like the hours or the money. After earning an undergraduate and master’s degree in business, Mackenzie still felt unfulfilled. A cross-country move to Manhattan gave her the confidence to enroll in beauty school. “Our health and happiness relate to being fulfilled. I’m glad I decided it’s never too late to start over,” says Mackenzie in her application video.