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A young entrepreneur walks the halls of LaFayette High School and can be identified by her business, Locs by LaJada. As a rising junior, LaJada McCullough has already started her business, specializing in providing a range of braid styles, maintaining dreadlocks and  promoting healthy hair techniques. 

“I just like to see people happy. You know when you look good, you feel good,” McCullough said.

The idea came about when McCullough and her mother were stopped at a mall by someone asking who had done her mother’s hair. 

“I never did hair, I only did my hair and her hair. So this was my first client,” she said. 

When they told her, the girl asked if she could do hers as well. 

“It was around back to school actually. And so I did her hair for back-to-school, and she actually liked it,” she said.

For the past three years, McCullough has been perfecting her craft. She said the work relaxes her but more than that, she just enjoys helping people look their best. Running her own business has also developed her soft skills.

“I’ve learned how to put myself out there,” she said. 

After high school, McCullough hopes to continue with her hairstylist business as well as becoming a real estate agent.

On top of that, McCullough is also a member of the “Kingdom IT Girls,” a youth group that mentors younger girls in the church. At Reckless Love Worship Center International, McCullough is currently shadowing Minister Yolacia Davidson, helping with the ministry’s social media page. She said she is drawn to Davidson’s strong faith.

“She’s spoke to me on so many levels. I just love the spirit that she gives me. She’s a very good person,” she said. “And I think it’s helping me become a better person, taking care of myself and speaking well in front of people.”

McCullough’s pastor, Sabrina Davidson, said in a press release, “LaJada’s involvement has significantly increased the environment at church. She has noticed her spiritual growth.” 

“You can’t never be too close to God,” McCullough said.

At school, McCullough shines in the publications team, a group of students who work to create flyers, schoolwide campaigns and other student engagement activities. McCullough serves as the Creative Content Director for the team. 

McCullough, in her third year on the cheer team, was recently a recipient of the All-American Cheerleading Award and was one of 500 cheerleaders who travelled to Hawaii to participate in Pearl Harbor Parade. 

McCullough is also a member of the AAC Delta GEMS. There, she said she has learned about topics like financing, coding and real estate. She said they also learn important skills that she’ll need as an adult like how to write a check.

If that wasn’t enough, McCullough also volunteers with the LaFayette Main Street, an organization working to improve the economic vitality in downtown LaFayette, in her free time.