career profiles
Jordyn Gaines: Dr. Creg Williams:
School Superintendent By Ieisha Banks, Freshman, Southern Illinois University
D
r. Creg E. Williams, superintendent of Thornton Fractional High School District #215, is a unique inspirational figure for all young adults in the Chicagoland area. Though being in charge of three different schools is in no way a simple task, Dr. Williams was never one to take the easy way out in life. Long before he received his doctorate, Dr. Williams was just another young adult trying to achieve a respectable college degree and figure out what career field he wanted to take. “I started college seeking a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science. It was shortly after receiving it that I decided to go back for a master’s in educational administration. While holding a position as principal, I went back to college again to receive my doctorate in educational administration.” Though Dr. Williams, who also worked as an assistant superintendent, is kept extremely busy managing Thornton Fractional North, South, and Center, he still continues to find time to properly manage both his professional life and his personal life to remain grounded. “I have to schedule both my professional life and my personal life,” Dr. Williams joked, “but somehow my professional life always ends up dominating my personal… However, for fun, I teach martial arts classes 2-3 days a week…It’s quite the rigorous schedule…” But don’t get too comfortable with this side of Dr. Williams. He does not intend on ending his career path as a superintendent anytime soon. “…I would like to keep going until I’m 60 at least,” he stated. When asked what advice he would give to struggling young high schoolers attempting to figure out what they would like to be in life Dr. Williams said, “Start early in high school and find what it takes to become what it is you want to be… It’s okay if you change your mind, just get enough general training so you can make a change on the path of what you want to be when you become an adult.” Dr. Williams serves as a prime example that as long as one is focused and disciplined enough, they can achieve whatever goal it is that they strive for in life.
16 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Pastry Chef by Kennedy Ward, Senior Morgan Park High School
“F
ind something you love to do, become an expert at it and make it your career,” says Jordyn Gaines. “The money will come.” Gaines, who speaks from personal experience, is the founder and owner of Jordy Cakes Specialty Sweets, a bakery that specializes in baking cakes and cupcakes that “taste just as good as the look.” With sweets that take the shapes of popcorn buckets, pool balls, and everything in between, Gaines, 19, has definitely earned her title as “Cupcake Queen.” It didn’t take the Homewood Flossmoor grad an extensive college education to realize her passion. “I started baking during my junior year in high school at the age of 16 after completing a 2-week cake decorating section in my Advanced Foods class. After the unit was over I started practicing at home, reading cake decorating books and watching Youtube videos and taught myself how to decorate cakes through lots of practice, trial and error.” After realizing that her creations were just as good as the ones she copied from Martha Stewart’s books, it didn’t take long for others to realize her talent. “When people saw the cakes and cupcakes I was baking for various family events they started offering to pay me to bake for their parties and events. I accepted and JordyCakes was born!” Gaines explains. From that point on her business skyrocketed to success, having baked cakes for Jesse White, Chaka Khan, and Dwayne Wade. Gaines adds, however, that being the boss and the baker isn’t an easy job. “Because I do all of the baking and decorating myself, I can never be tired, sick or even take a break without running the risk of ruining someone’s milestone birthday, baby shower or wedding.” With an amazing work ethic, passion, and talent, Gaines is certainly headed for a successful career. She currently takes orders and inquiries through her website www.jordycakessweets.com and works out of her home. By 2015, she hopes to open her own bakery and have a team of employees to aid her in her baking business.