“Reaching Your Dreams” series tells stories of Northwestern alums of Chicago Field Studies (CFS), an academic internship program that matches over 500 students every year with over 250 employer partners. CFS participants receive guidance on choosing internships based on their passions and values. Students navigate applying and interviewing and develop skills to succeed in the professional world. While interning, students process their experiences in weekly CFS seminars, where they reflect on the place of work in their lives and the role of their industry in society.
By Nina Wieda
Nataly Martinez, a first-generation American and the first in her family to go to college, is a registered associate at Morgan Stanley and a co-founder of E&N Electric LLC – the company that she runs with her husband. She earned her BA in Economics from Northwestern University in 2019 and found her dream career through Chicago Field Studies.
Nataly grew up in a Spanish-speaking family in Melrose Park, Illinois. Her parents, who came to the US from Mexico as adults, worked hard in their manual jobs to provide a home for their two daughters. Nataly always loved school. “I was so surprised to see other kids cry at dropoff in kindergarten. I thought, ‘Why are they crying? School is so much fun,” Nataly recalls. A stellar student, Nataly always knew that she wanted to apply herself, but wasn’t sure, how. She saw pediatricians at work and decided that she wanted to be a pediatrician, too.
Nataly Martinez and her family
When it was time to choose college, Nataly faced a dilemma: Northwestern offered her a generous funding package, but not a full ride, like another school did. It was a difficult decision, because her parents would have a difficult time making her tuition payments, and many people in her life advised to take the easier route and go to a full-ride school. Nataly had a dream, though, so she chose Northwestern.
During her sophomore year, she realized, with surprise, that she was falling behind in her professional development. Most of her peers returned from their sophomore summer with an internship experience under their belt, but Nataly had spent the summer working at a home improvement store to support her family and earn some money towards tuition. “I actually did not realize that I was expected to intern every summer. I felt like I was not keeping up with the expected professional development path, and it started to undermine my confidence. I didn’t feel like I could compete with all those other students who had been preparing for their careers since they were little.” When Nataly interviewed for junior summer internships, she always had to explain why she didn’t gain any experience the previous summer; she would get subconscious and underperform in her interviews. Discovering Chicago Field Studies helped Nataly get out of the vicious cycle.
Nataly’s CFS adviser, Karen Allen, spent multiple hours helping Nataly identify her strengths and developing her resume. She also advocated for Nataly with employer partners until one of them recognized Nataly’s potential and offered her a position. Nataly interned with Renew Packaging during her sophomore spring quarter and gained an excellent review from her supervisor. At the same time, her CFS class helped her discover her professional strengths and confidence. By discussing the concepts of work and career with her peers, she realized that she has a lot to offer as a professional, even if she hadn’t been preparing for a career in finance since middle school. The experience empowered Nataly and generated a new dream. One of her classmates interned with Morgan Stanley in the Willis Tower, which seemed like an absolutely glamorous and unachievable opportunity. Nataly listened to her classmate share her impressions and wondered what it would take to make it there.
The first internship opened the door to future opportunities; Nataly got back on track. An overachieving student, she fulfilled the requirements to graduate a quarter early. It was tempting to start working and helping her family, but she decided to expand her career horizon some more and participate in Chicago Field Studies once again. Aware of Nataly’s dream, Karen Allen recommended Nataly directly to a Morgan Stanley employer partner, and Nataly did not only secure an internship, but also a full-time offer after graduation. Four years later, Nataly is still with Morgan Stanley and very happy with her job and the professional growth she has experienced. A senior supervisor recently told her that she was the best employee with whom he had ever worked. “It was a full circle moment,” Nataly smiles. “From my sophomore class when I listened to another student speak of her Morgan Stanley internship and thinking that I could never compete on that level, to being there and exceeding their expectations.” Although distant from the world of finance, Nataly’s parents nonetheless find it very impressive that their daughter works in Willis Tower – just as she had wanted.