What is your current role? How would you describe the work that you do?
Rotational program at JP Morgan Chase, supporting businesses with budgets of $20 million and up. I’ve rotated through industries through the lenses of banking, treasury, and credit. I’m on my last rotation before placement in core treasury. I support a team in helping clients with liquidity solutions. I’m helping to implement new products with accounts and utilizing account protection against fraud. I make sure clients feel supported in becoming more efficient and help them to make more of an impact.
What was your Chicago Scholars experience like?
Amazing, it was so great. Life-changing. It came at a pivotal moment in life as a junior preparing to go to college. It was the organization that I needed to go through the process of transitioning from high school to college, and pushed me to follow my collegiate dreams. I was a first gen student, so I had no clue. Having this organization helped me to see that dream was possible. From workshops, mentors, to teaching me discipline and giving me advice in college. They were the foundation to be successful to get to and through college.
How did Chicago Scholars support you to be the person you are today?
CS supported me tremendously. Gave me the safe space to be able to work on my college and scholarship apps and gave me a community of people to lean on. During that time, we had to apply for the CS Five and apply to so many other schools. Some colleges had essays, and CS gave me community to lean on when I needed it most. At college, they taught me the importance of giving back. Now, I’m able to give back with the equitable fund and I reached dreams for college. They supported me in all aspects.
What advice would you have given yourself just after being accepted into the program? What advice do you have for current Scholars?
I was very anxious, but the advice would be, it’s okay, you don’t have to worry too much. You’re about to have a community of support that wants to see you succeed. You’ll go to the college of your dreams because CS walked with you every step of the way there.
Embrace this moment because there’s a lot that’s going to happen, but embrace your authenticity and who you are because you can highlight that in applications, with recruiters, for the community. Embrace who you are as a person and showcase that with your CS community. It’s gonna help with applications and through college. Staying true to yourself will get you so far in life and your goals.
What does being from Chicago mean to you now?
It means everything. I always pride myself as being a girl from the South Side, wherever I go. The city has shaped my foundational principles, how I show up in my career, in my community, with family and friends. It made me the woman I am today. It’s where I started, and gives me hope for who I can be and become.
What do you wish people knew about Chicago Scholars, as well as the city of Chicago?
Wish people knew more about the success of the program. There was a campaign about the quantitative impact of CS over the years, but I wish more people knew about it. There are never too many people to know about the success of CS and its impact on the lives of students around the city. Once a Scholar, always a Scholar. No matter where they go, they’re a Scholar. Thousands of students have been impacted by the work of Chicago Scholars.
For the city of Chicago, I wish more people knew about the beautiful people here and the culture. I’ve traveled to places, and there’s no city like Chicago. I’ve met so many people who are shaping the world right now. From the artists, to hometown heroes like Michelle Obama, we are the best city for food, culture, community. Wish it was highlighted more. People want to hear about the violence, but we’re more than that. We are diverse, with so many cultures to find in the culture of Chicago, it’s so beautiful.
