Since graduating from Holy Trinity in 2015, Jackie Salgado has been busy taking classes at DePaul University as a Canning Scholar, a Big Shoulders Fund scholarship. As she prepares to graduate from college, Jackie took a look back at her time at Holy Trinity.
Recalling your time at HT, what stands out to you?
I came to Holy Trinity because it was the closest private school, the most affordable, and it really felt like family when I came to shadow. I played soccer all four years, basketball my junior and senior year, and then volleyball my senior year. I was also in Gospel Choir, Student Government, National Honors Society, and other clubs. I tried to do as much as I could while I was there. I gave tours to donors after school some days. I was taking a couple of honors classes starting my sophomore year. I took AP Spanish. There weren’t as many AP classes as there are now, but Mr. Joseph was starting AP Brit Lit during our lunch period, so I would attend those.
How did Holy Trinity prepare you for your future?
Through Holy Trinity, I interned at JP Morgan Chase my junior year, and then Wells Fargo my senior year. Those internships and my NFTE / Corporate Experience class taught me how to dress, speak properly, network, fix our resumes. Those experiences helped me earn paid internships and jobs throughout college, and will help me as I transition into my career.
Why do you now choose to volunteer at HT?
I want to show prospective students what they can do and achieve at Holy Trinity. It’s a really great school, and I love to see the new things that are being added, like B-STEM and improvements to the building. I’m fortunate enough to be able to come back and speak at Open Houses as well as volunteer at the Networking Breakfast and other opportunities with the NFTE / Corporate Experience business class. I want to give back to my alma mater because I feel I gained so much from my time at Holy Trinity.
What’s next for you?
I’m majoring in business management, graduating with honors in June 2019. I want to become a financial advisor. From a young age, I have always had help in school financially as well as through meaningful mentorships. Now, I just want to give back.
Becoming a financial advisor would let me by own boss, gives me that business side that I want while allowing me to help others. I just want to help people as much as I can, and I feel there’s a lot of communities, like Little Village, Pilsen, and Back of the Yards, that don’t have that financial help. I want to teach them and show them that investing even a dollar can go a long way.
