Dedication. Talent. The willingness to put in the necessary time. These are some of the traits that contribute to an individual’s success. Dominique Jackson has all these, and more. Dominique was born in Portland, Oregon. As a child she moved between the Northwest and Oklahoma, where she also had family. “As a young girl I always enjoyed being very active. Dancing with my cousins, singing in church. When I was little I was always around my family, and they were huge. We would have barbecues where we performed dance routines to Janet Jackson.” When Dominique was in elementary school her mother moved them to Seattle in order to take advantage of its thriving economy. “That was something new because we didn’t have anyone in Seattle. It contributed to who I am as a person because now I’m used to being in situations and environments where I don’t know anyone or I’m by myself and it comes from having to live in different places by myself.”

     The cosmopolitan nature of big cities made it an interesting time for Dominique. Facing the issues that most adolescents go through, she found herself in a place where there were other people living under similar circumstances. Finding the motivation to succeed during this time in her life was difficult. “By seventh grade I was already getting into trouble, not really inspired, not really motivated by anything and I didn’t really care.” This lack of motivation was limited to the things that did not interest her at the time. Dominique still pursued the things she liked. She was involved in dance competitions, talent shows, modeling, and played on elite soccer and softball teams. 

     The urban Seattle scene that was contributing to her budding delinquency also introduced her to different cultures. Though she had friends that bought into the prevalent inner-city culture of the time, Dominique was open minded enough to befriend people from different ethnic and economic backgrounds where she experienced things that would have been unknown to her. “Being that I had moved around so much, I was the type of person where I blended in.”

      Dominique’s mother took the family back to Oregon when Dominique was in high school. Dominique started to work at her aunt’s boutique during the summer. This is when she started to realize that if she were going to move forward, or at the very least maintain her current lifestyle, she would have to start making changes in her life. Hard work was not a strange thing to Dominique since she saw how her mother raised her and her younger sister while working full time; but the reason for the work was what had escaped her until now. She started to look forward and began working towards her future.

      Dominique started to take advantage of the opportunities available to her. “I recognized that success equals knowledge. My senior year in high school I had success in the subject of economics and began investing. I got involved in Junior Achievement. I was accepted into the Inroads Internship program and began working in the Buying Department of Meier & Frank. I always knew I would have my own business but initially I thought I would go into fashion.” As a result of her dedication and hard work Dominique graduated early from high school and was accepted at the University of Oregon for their spring semester.

     At the University of Oregon Dominique achieved academic success but she felt that something was missing. She realized she needed to get away from the Northwest in order to accomplish her goals. Her high school mentor urged her to apply to Mount Holyoke College, a liberal arts school for women in Massachusetts. She applied and was accepted. Dominique made the decision to transfer with some difficulty. She had to leave her mother and sister behind as well as the comfort and security that comes from the familiarity of home.

     That fall she hit the ground running. She took advantage of all the opportunities available, both at Mount Holyoke and the surrounding area. It was here that she was first exposed to mass media and the interest she had shown as a child in performing was rekindled. WMHC 91.5, the college radio station, had recently lost its urban music director and Dominique stepped in. She also worked in the college television studio where she participated in and produced its programs. During her summer break Dominique interned at KXJM Jammin 95.5, an urban radio station in Portland. While working the street teams for the station Dominique was asked for her autograph by some of its young listeners. This experience showed her the influence the media can have on people. The coordinator at Jammin 95.5 helped Dominique get an internship at WJMN Jamn’ 94.5, a radio station in Boston, for her fall semester. Jamn’ 94.5 was the number one station in Boston, the eighth largest market in the country. Dominique was not about to let that opportunity pass her by.

     Dominique’s sophomore year was a busy one. She made the hour-long trip to Boston on an almost nightly basis while interning at Jamn’ 94.5. She started hosting parties and events in order to boost her name recognition and build her image.  She carried a full class load and worked at her campus job. Dominique had to bear down in order to make the most of her opportunities. It was difficult, but she was up for the task. As the speeding tickets mounted and her sleep diminished, Dominique met all her obligations.

     After her sophomore year her family moved to Florida. She applied for a summer internship and ended up getting a paid position at WJHM 102Jamz in Orlando. For her junior year Dominique studied abroad in Spain. The political climate of the time and family conflicts back home led Dominique to adjust the direction she was heading in. She realized that her own personal success was not enough for her. This, combined with the influence of all the people who had contributed to her success, led Dominique to realize it was important for her to open doors for others in the same way that they had been opened for her.

     After graduating from Mount Holyoke with a Bachelor’s in Mass Media Dominique worked as a Production Assistant for VH1 and Group Coordinator for URGE, MTV’s digital media service. Dominique has taken on the role of mentoring others since leaving school. Some of the people she has helped have obtained positions at ESPN and Nickelodeon.

     Though she is happy where she is, her curiosity and drive to succeed have her ever looking forward. She plans to take her talents and put them in front of the camera, though she realizes that it is not an easy task. She is currently attending acting classes at The Primary Stages School of Theater and has taken parts in commercials, short films, television, and student films in order to gain experience. 

     If the past can be used to determine the future, then the curiosity, the willingness to work hard, and the dedication to succeed that have put Dominique Jackson in the position she is in now will ensure that no opportunity will be wasted and that she will achieve her goal of eventually being in a position where she is successful as an individual and can positively impact the lives of others.