Rosa Dominquez never thought she did anything that would cause her to be noticed at St. Ambrose. She went to class, kept her head down and was diligently consumed in her studies, her family and her work.
But she was noticed, and deservingly so, by St. Ambrose professors who recognized something in Dominquez that she didn't recognize in herself until now: her worth and her strength.
After graduating on Dec. 18 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, she credited those "angels" as she calls them, who over two years, opened her eyes to all she has, and can, achieve.
"I feel so blessed for all the support my professors gave me when I didn't feel I was deserving. They showed me kindness, love, they made me believe in myself," Dominguez said.
Dominguez immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 1989 with her two children to establish a life in a country where she didn't speak English. She settled in Los Angeles and worked three jobs fully focused on providing her children every opportunity to grow, be happy, and thrive. She had a third child in 1990, and joined her current husband, Javier, in the Quad Cities in 2009.
As her children grew into adults, two pursuing college degrees and the third raising a family, Dominguez chose to do something for herself. "I wanted to learn more English to communicate better with people, perform better at work and represent myself well." She signed up for an English as a Second Language course at Scott Community College, completed it, then went on to earn her GED. She followed it up with an associate degree in accounting.
There were setbacks along the way. Her father died, then her mother had a stroke. Dominguez cared for her until her death in 2018. The heaviness of loss coupled with work and family responsibilities caused her to consider leaving school, but she kept going.
Dominguez transferred to St. Ambrose and started classes while working two jobs and managing a household that included her daughter, five grandchildren, and a husband recovering from back surgery. And there were times during her first semester when she questioned her ability to earn a bachelor's degree.
"In a leadership class first semester, I was confused about what the professor was asking for in an assignment." Frustrated, she approached Professor Jason Senjem, PhD, after class. "I told him I didn't understand and I didn't think I was ready for this level of classes. He looked me in the eye and told me, 'You are here because we believe you can do it. You are denying your potential. Believe in yourself. Tell me how you understand it and I will help you because you are not going to drop my class, that is for sure.'
"Dr. Senjem opened my eyes and I could see he was right. I was afraid and that didn't allow me to see the subject," she said.
Dominguez enrolled as an accounting major but found herself struggling with the subject matter. One day, Professor Allison Ambrose, PhD, took her aside. "She told me she didn't think my passion was accounting and I had lost track of my real passion. 'I don't want to see you fail. I appreciate you and I want the best for you,' is what she told me.
"I realized she was right. She made me see myself as I am. I lost my authenticity in trying to be something I wasn't supposed to be," Dominguez said, and when she switched to business administration, everything clicked. Immediately.
Dominguez has a job waiting for her at Scott Community College after graduation. In addition to launching her career, she will be volunteering at a nursing home and mentoring children who are navigating life without the guidance of parents.
"I want to give back to my community all of the blessings and support I've received from all of my angels," she said.
"I feel the passion and compassion. It is the right combination when you don't think you are able to do things. The passion you have and the compassion others show you hold you up and keep you going. It is hard, but it is not impossible."
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