Chrisbelle Dominguez is an 18-year-old senior and she is very known by the students and teachers at JFK Memorial High School. In this article, we’ll get to know Chrisbelle a little better as she shares how she feels about her school years.

How does it feel to be back in person?

To be honest, it’s scary to be back in person, reasons being is that you’ll never know who has it; some people are lying about their symptoms, nobody barely wears a mask, so you don’t know who has COVID-19 or not, and it’s very easy to spread. In a way, it does feel good because you haven’t seen your peers, people who you are going to graduate with in such a long time. It feels like it’s been more than three years, but in reality it’s been only two years. Personally, I like being there because when you need some guidance or you need people to be there for you, there are the people that you didn’t have the past two years there, you can count on them no matter what. It’s scary, but at the end of the day you have to get through it.

If you had the opportunity to redo your years at JFK, what would you do differently and why?

I would change my freshman year and sophomore year because those were the two toughest years I dealt with, and now that I’m a senior…I’m not the best student because I have a big mouth, but If I can change, it would be the first two years. I would also change my attention in class. [In the past]I would say, “oh that test is not going to count” but now I’m a senior and in reality it does count. You have to do well in school in order to graduate. Those are the graduation requirements. You don’t do good, you don’t graduate, then you’re going to be like me, taking classes with juniors. [You] have to step up your game, and don’t care what people say, ’cause at the end of the day, people are going to talk about you no matter what, you can’t let them get to you. All of it is not worth it in your four years of high school. If I can take them back, I would like how people view me as like they say “Oh Chrisbelle, she’s a troublemaker…”  but in reality, I’m not, I’m just a girl who’s trying to live her life past high school, go to college, [and] do what I have to do to make my life successful. 

How would you describe your senior year in three words? 

Tough, unforgettable, unique.

What school events have you participated in?

I’m in two clubs, I’m in Ping pong with Mr. Maggin and WeEvolve with Mrs. Polati.

What are your plans after high school?

My plans after high school is to attend Kean University to become a teacher for kids with special needs, and go into the army reserve.

What was the most memorable school sporting event of the year?

The most memorable school sporting event of the year would have to be the student vs faculty basketball game my sophomore year. Mainly because Mrs. D was on a roll shooting her hoops. You don’t expect a woman of her age to be able to beat kids in basketball. Also, because Alan Hunt [fell] on the floor, definitely can’t forget about that. 

If you could create one new club for the next year, what would it be?

It would be a women empowerment club because I feel like girls in our school, the new generation coming into our school, [some] are so insecure, and yes they may be loud, yes they may be rowdy, yes they be over the top crazy, because I was like that my freshman year. I’m not going to lie. But I would create that because some of these girls be going through things at home, people don’t understand, people just think of them as “oh this girl is rowdy, that girl is just being extra…” when you get to know them; to know their story you realize that they go through things and they need a chance and opportunity to let everything go. They don’t have people at home to talk to about that, or go through the same things. They are scared, they are afraid. So I would create this club because we all need to support each other no matter what.

Who was your favorite teacher throughout all of high school and why?

Mrs. Pardo is my favorite teacher. Mrs. Pardo is like a mom. She may tell you yes you were wrong, she’s there for you no matter what, she’ll tell when you are wrong, when you are right, but she doesn’t see the outside on no student. She may see that you’re loud, she may see that you are a troublemaker, but she knows deep down inside you’re a good person. She won’t judge you, she’s a teacher who would give you opportunities no matter what. Mrs. Pardo is just an incredible person, her style in teaching as well. 

If you could change one school rule, what would it be?

It would be in-school suspension. I feel like [there is] no point in putting a student in a room [that] is not teaching them about their mistakes, like deep down what a kid is going to do; do the same thing over and over again, that is not a punishment for the students. Allow them to explain themselves, not just being like “oh yeah, you did this, so now you’re in suspension”. Another school rule I would change is the bathroom duty situation. I hate that there is a person there timing you on how long you use the bathroom, like you don’t know the necessary thing you have to do in the bathroom, you don’t know if it’s an emergency too. Also, allow them to breathe in the bathroom cause you don’t know if they are having a bad day, or they’re stressed out and need a break in class.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? 

I see myself married, being a mom of two kids, having a house and a car under my name, also still being a teacher, teaching kids with special needs. 

What’s something that you loved doing as a kid that you still love doing as an adult?

Helping people out. I would say that without any hesitation, the fact that I can see when someone’s hurt, or to see when someone is upset, and I’m trying to be there for them, even if they push me away, but I still try, is something I like about myself and I love doing because coming from a person that didn’t have much of that at home, and not giving me love that I need. Me knowing that I can do that with no hesitation is something I still love to do and it’s something unique.

If you had a YouTube channel, what would be your YouTube personality or the focus of your channel?

It’s the baby live of Chrisbelle, it would be what Chrisbelle goes through throughout the day, what she would be doing that day; just something uncensored or like, a reality TV show but on YouTube. 

If you were going to open your own business, what would it be, and why?

If I were to open my own business, I wouldn’t want it to be like a nail salon or something like that.  I never really thought of that, but I would say a thrift store, like things with school supplies, clothes, things like that for kids that don’t have much at home. I would open up a business for kids that don’t get food, like some business that I would probably open or for parents that have low income can afford.