At one point, not long after she finished high school, she was working at Macy's, taking classes at Harold Washington University, and earning rave reviews as an intern at Oral Health America.

 

She credits her ability to manage a hectic schedule to the skills she learned in Chicago Lights Tutoring's Career Development program.

"I learned how to be professional, how to act in an interview, and how to network with others," she explains. "My tutor, Katie--who I still contact often--helped me a lot with my resume."

OVERCOMING ACADEMIC CHALLENGES

 

Dominique grew up in the former Cabrini-Green neighborhood and "had a lot of challenges with school," she says. "I was a slow learner, I had ADHD, and by sixth grade I was taking a lot of IEP special education classes." 

But there was always someone at Chicago Lights Tutoring ready to help Dominique succeed. "Every Tuesday night I looked forward to seeing my tutor so I could go into my classes the next day more knowledgeable," she says.

 

FROM INTERN TO CORPORATE TRAINER

	Dominique is currently a corporate trainer at marketing firm Talem + Plum, where she also participates in a management training program.

Over time, Dominique became  a  more confident student. In 2015, she graduated from Noble Street College Prep High School and continued to explore career opportunities through internships at  Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit law firm and Oral Health America--internships  she received through Chicago Lights. 

" I have learned a lot from each internship I've had and gained different skills from each job," she says. "Having internships in such different markets has given me a chance to see exactly what I want to accomplish in life."

 

Right now Dominique is working as a corporate trainer at Talem + Plum, a marketing firm. 

"I'm in a management training program--learning sales, communications, how to conduct interviews, and how to manage myself as well as others," she says. 

In addition to gaining skills and experience at work, she plans to continue college, and all the while she's working toward the goal of owning her own corporate marketing firm--with at least one Fortune 100 client.

 

"T his is all I wanted growing up--to always have my hands full," she says with a laugh. "I'm juggling school and work, but I look at work as an opportunity."