Liz Alvarado

For Liz Alvarado, her Red Knight Pride lies in her connection with her roots and her community. Reminiscing on all her fond memories of her classmates and experiences here at the Castle on the Hill leaves a big smile on her face! “I had the best four years at Reading High,” she recalls. “A lot of people say we have a bad rep, but I had a wonderful experience.” When Liz thinks of her time at Reading High, she looks back on running track and taking pictures for the yearbook, and she marvels at how technology has advanced since then. “We ran around the halls taking pictures of everyone, especially for spirit week,” she says, laughing. “The teachers let us do whatever we wanted with the yearbook. We even had a student draw the front cover!” 

Other highlights from Liz’s high school years include memorable times with teachers and role models such as her vice principal Mrs. Sepulveda and teachers Mr. and Mrs. Cook. Liz helped Mrs. Sepulveda in the office, and notes how remarkably down-to-earth and caring she was with students. “She was just awesome. She really wanted to see the kids succeed.” Even now, Liz feels a deep sense of gratitude for everything that Mrs. Sepulveda did, not only for Liz herself, but for the entire student body. Similarly, other teachers presented Liz with a warm environment in which she made lasting memories. The kindness and commitment of Mr. and Mrs. Cook never went unnoticed. “Everybody knows them! They did so much for the school.” For Liz, high school wasn’t just about academics, but about building a strong community where students feel supported, heard, and valued.

Liz’s sense of community wasn’t limited to just the school grounds: she was involved with the cheerleading team for PAL (Police Athletic League), dancing at the rec center, and going to dollar theaters and teen clubs. All these activities highlighted some of her most memorable high school days, so she was saddened to discover that things had changed with the times. She believes that conflict, violence, and poor choices have resulted in the lack of teen-exclusive activities in Reading. “There were so many places for us back then—safe spaces where we could be teens. I think kids today really need more of that.” When she compares the activities she had available to her with the ones our community has now, she feels that some of the “old-school” activities should be brought back, saying that less teens would be exposed to trouble if they had more options available to them. Despite that concern, Liz remains hopeful. “Reading gets a bad rep, but there are so many people—kids and adults—who really care and want to see the city succeed. That’s what gives me hope.”

Like many other members of her community, life took her down an unexpected, albeit familiar path. Liz originally had plans to go to college for criminal justice, and she was accepted by Albright College and planned to study there. However, concurrently, she had grown a serious passion for doing hair. “It’s really funny, because I never planned on being a hairstylist, but I had always been doing hair.” What started as doing cornrows on her porch blossomed into a full-fledged career after she visited a beauty school and enrolled. “I loved it, I stuck with it, and here I am 20 years later, still doing hair!”

Today, Liz works at Wyomissing Hair Studio as well as freelancing for quinceañeras, weddings, and special events, bringing decades of experience to her craft. Liz isn’t known just for her skill, but the special bond she creates with each client. “I call my clients my extended family. When you hire me,” she says tenderly, “you trust me, and I care about each event like it’s my own.” Her job does come with challenges—trying to balance family life and work life–but Liz wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Thinking about what comes next, Liz dreams of opening her own shop one day. Her renown as a respected stylist is more than just a career to her. It’s a reflection of her Red Knight Pride, remembering where she came from, and her visions for an even brighter generation to come.