Marquita Colbert, 24, grew up watching her grandmother Myrtis run a family-style hair salon.

That exposure and seeing the interaction between her grandmother and the clients, who were also her friends, engraved a drive and determination in Colbert to one day make that her career.

Now on the final stretch before college graduation, she is getting some of that same customer interaction her grandmother did but in an educational atmosphere.

With the goal to give its students real-life experience outside the classroom, Florida Career College in Boynton Beach added a spa to its campus more than a month ago for its cosmetology program.

Florida Career College Area Executive Director Michael Schwam said the results have been better than expected.

The Spa at FCC, 1743 N Congress Ave., offers salon services at inexpensive prices and helps the students learn to deal with customers, Schwam said.

“Listening is an art, he said. “They need to learn to listen and do what they [customers] want, not just do what you want. It is all about exposure to the customers under the supervision of the school.”

All treatments are performed by students close to graduating from the FCC School of Cosmetology under the supervision of instructors. The 5,000-square-foot salon is accented by mirrors and artwork.

Schwam said without this customer mingling, students might go off into the real world and burn through jobs.

Boynton Beach Cosmetology Program Chairwoman Cassandra Millines said the flow of customers coming in since Oct. 8, when it opened, has been steady because of people leaving the gym or Marshall’s nearby.

Services and treatments include shampoo and conditioning for $5, cuts for $10, coloring from $15 to $40, manicures from $10 to $20 and facials from $15 to $25.

“We don’t just do hair, we do facials, nails and we are a full spa,” she said.

There are 105 students total in the program, with as many as 50 at one time in the class.

“The students are just so excited when they get here in the morning, they are like ‘What clients do we have today?'” Millines said.

The Spa at the College is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On Tuesdays, 30-minute facials are $10. On Thursdays, customers who bring in friends who purchase services will receive 50 percent off their own services. For an appointment, call 877-250-6772.

For information about Florida Career College, call 561-634-7400.