Student Profile: Yunique Watson
Growing up on Chicago's infamous south side can be challenging. With a variety of negative influences seeming to outweigh the positive forces and "more funerals than birthdays," it is hard for many to overcome ob
stacles and reach for the stars.
Despite the challenges her life has thrown her, Yunique Watson soars amongst the clouds. A Senior at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and intern at General Growth Properties, Watson hurdles obstacles like an Olympian, smiling as she keeps moving forward towards her goals.
Early in her life, Watson faced a special set of circumstances including watching the passing of her best friend, her brother, and growing up in a place where support was rare. After his death, Yunique began down a dangerous path, as her grades slipped and despair began to set in. She refused to talk to people about issues, bottling them up inside and experiencing terrible stress.
However, as many have come to know, Yunique's spirit cannot be broken. Learning from and gaining strength from her mother, she began her path towards breaking through. She pulled her grades up, achieving high honors. To this day, Watson will not tolerate a low B or a C as her ambition pushes her to "do what [she] has to do to get an A."
Using the toughness and independence she credits to learning from her mother and displaying nothing but kindness and a wonderful smile, Yunique has touched the hearts of many in Genesys Works. In her Breaking Through speech, she stated that Genesys Works was the "key to [her] success." She found that the program allowed her to "wake up every day knowing [she is] about to go and do something [she loves]." To Yunique, Genesys Works is a "family" providing a source of "tough love": without judgement but always teaching youth how to fix their mistakes. "I felt comfortable being here," said Watson, "I felt at home."
In her time here, she's learned many things. Most of all, she has learned to "just go for it." Using her lessons and ability to adapt to create strong relationships and step up as a leader. She has used the program to learn from different cultures and races, pushing herself to become a better, more professional person. "I talk better. I talk differently than I did before this program," states Watson when asked to reflect upon what she has learned and will take with her into the corporate world.
She continues to keep her brother in mind and pushes herself to do what he could not finish in this life, graduate from college. Yunique looks to graduate from Clark University in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology or Business Management.
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