From Passion to Professional: Dominique Murray’s Photography Journey
For Dominique Murray ’15, a single Photoshop course sparked a passion that grew into a career.
“At OLSH, I kind of got to dabble into everything with honors classes, AP courses, regular academic classes,” Murray said. “But I really got to be able to go into the art studio and let that creativity side just be explored.”
Her passion for photography came from the ability to create.
“What got me excited about photography was just the ability to take different pieces of other people's lives and showcase them in a unique way that I was able to make my own,” she explained.
That creative spark, combined with OLSH’s challenging academics, prepared her not only for college but also for the entrepreneurial life she leads today.
“All of the classes come together. Even if you don't see it now, you will use this education in the future,” Murray urged.
“I'm still using the math fundamentals to navigate my business expenses,” she continued. “I'm writing emails, having speaking engagements where all the English and literature comes into play. I'm using my history classes and everything that I learned here to help myself make informed decisions on how I should be navigating that aspect of my life.”
Murray also pointed to OLSH Theatre as a place where she learned important life skills.
“I think one of the biggest lessons I learned was don't be afraid to ask for help,” she explained. “Whether that was Show Choir, the Christmas Play, or the Spring Musical, everybody has the same end goal. We want it to be a good show.
“And so now being in the adult world, we all want to do well at work. We all want to put food on the table. We all want to be thriving in our community, but if I don't understand something, I have to be able to ask for help. And I think I learned that really quickly, being in the theater.”
Her advice to today’s OLSH students is simple: don’t be afraid to try something new.
“I think students should not be afraid to try things because you never know how that's going to impact you for the rest of your life. Me taking that Photoshop course was a total whim and now I am a full-blown photographer and I don't know if I would have had that opportunity if it wasn't for it.”
Beyond academics and activities, Murray treasures the community she found at OLSH, even after graduation.
“You can reach out to a teacher. You can reach out to somebody that you went to class with and they're still going to answer you. They're going to help you. They're going to be there for you no matter what it is. And I think that's such a beautiful space to be in. And to be able to carry that with you for the rest of your life is so powerful.”