For Ruth DeLeon, building a business has meant more than starting a career. She sought to create a schedule that leaves room for the people who matter most to her.

DeLeon, 30, started her own business so she could block out purposeful time for her children. Accordingly, the doors are closed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Ruth’s Beauty Salon in Yukon.

The rest of the week is filled with appointments for full-body waxing, Korean skincare, glass-skin facials, LED light therapy, henna brows and more. No haircare. No nails. Those are different parts of the Cosmetology industry with less appeal to her.

Last spring, DeLeon completed the evening Esthetician program at Canadian Valley Technology Center and quickly passed her state licensure exam. She decided the best course of action was to put her new skills to work on her terms.

“I figured that if I built something of my own, I can be available to my kids as well,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to do esthetics, but I didn’t want to do the entire cosmetology program,” she said.

DeLeon said building a business is a lot harder than she imagined but she loves the work and the extended family time.

Fortunately, she said, CV Tech provided her with skills and workforce readiness that included interaction with community business professionals. An accountant, an attorney and an insurance agent collectively provided students with guidance on topics including taxes, legal responsibilities and adequate liability coverage related to business ownership.

“I love Canadian Valley so much,” she said. “My instructor was amazing, and there’s nothing I would change about my experience there.”

DeLeon’s story illustrates a key advantage of career and technology education. Students can gain specialized skills in a relatively short period of time and put those skills to work soon after completing their training.

The 600-hour evening Esthetician program is open for adult enrollment during all months school is in session. It is among a handful of evening programs available to adults with busy lifestyles.

The school also provides a daytime Esthetician program for high school students. Classes begin in August and extend into June to ensure the mandated 600-hour training requirement is met within a half-day schedule. But it ensures high school students can complete the program in one school year. Nearly all other programs require two years for high schoolers.

For DeLeon, the training became more than a pathway to a new career. It gave her the skills and confidence to build a business around the life she wanted.