Imagine going to work every day to do the job you love and looking out of the window to see crystal blue skies and listen to the sound of waves gently crashing on the beach.
For Katie Holbrook, a previous beauty student at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology this is her reality.
Katie qualified in 2010 after studying Beauty Therapy, Media Makeup and Complementary Therapies through the College and now works for Steiner Spa onboard the Carnival cruise ships.
Katie followed in her sister’s footsteps and joined Rotherham College of Arts and Technology to follow her dreams of becoming a beauty therapist.
After completing a number of different courses, she was well prepared to tackle life at sea, but it wasn’t plain sailing to get the job as Katie explained: “It took some hard work and determination to get through the interview the process for the cruise ship and then there was three weeks of solid training - but it was well worth it.
“I have made some great friends all over the world and our docking station in Baltimore has become almost like a second home.
“The work onboard is hard and the hours are long, but the places I have been able to see and visit have just been amazing.”
The Carnival cruise ship is a regular visitor to the Caribbean where Katie has experienced places including, Bermuda, Bahamas, and Florida.
Speaking about her time at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology, Katie said: “Every single tutor was fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for a nicer college experience.”
When asked about how her life at sea has changed her as a person, Katie said: “I have grown so much in confidence and become a lot more independent. I had never travelled alone, never mind travelled to the other side of the world to live. I would highly recommend it to anyone.”