Alumni Snapshots: Q&A with Dominique Thompson Mann '09

10/23/2020

We caught up with alumna Dominique Thompson Mann '09 to chat about what she's been up to since leaving Water Street. From involvement in community and advocacy organizations that led to her role in social work to her family's support on her journey, take a peek at our Q&A with Dominique!

Tell us some highlights of your journey since you graduated from Severn. I honestly have so many highlights since my graduation from Severn School! Immediately after high school, I attended High Point University and was involved in many different organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Multi-Cultural Alliance, and Psi Chi Honors Society just to name a few. After college I moved across the country to Phoenix, Arizona where I began my social work career. More recently, I moved back to Maryland, became a licensed social worker, a 200-hour yoga teacher, and married my high school sweetheart (AJ Mann). Currently, my husband and I are working on our best highlight--we're expecting in May 2021.

What has surprised you about your path? Being back in Maryland is a bit of a surprise for me. After moving to Arizona, I just knew that my next stop would be Los Angeles and I would probably live there for the rest of my life. However, after many LA visits, I quickly realized the East Coast was my forever home. The two coasts are very different and it took me leaving to realize that the East Coast is where I wanted to be. I love the hustle and bustle of the DMV area, having all 4 seasons, the amount of accessible road trips, the diverse cultures, and most of all—having so many friends and family around.

Who or what have been an inspiration to you in your personal and/or professional life? My mom has always been my number 1 inspiration. Growing up, she made a point to ensure I was involved in a million different activities to show me that the world is my oyster. She’s always believed in me even when I couldn’t believe in myself. There were times where I’d want to ‘settle’ in life, and she always knew the right thing to say to remind me that I am extraordinary, and so are the plans God has for me. Without her, I don’t know that I would receive my Master of Social Work with a 4.0 GPA while working several jobs and an internship. She has continuously poured into me, and practiced what she preached by leaving everything she knew behind, and moving across the country to follow her own dreams.

What is your “why”? (What motivates you/gives you a compass)? People. People from all different walks of life. I recognize that no matter what appears on the surface, everyone has a story that should be appreciated, processed, and shared. I want people to understand that they’re not alone and that they are worthy.

A book you recently read and recommend—and why. I’m currently reading The Courage to be Disliked and I recommend it because it reminds us of the key to life — perception.

Who was a mentor to you at Severn and what wisdom/guidance did they impart to you that’s still a part of who you are? There are so many that come to mind, but Coach Santa may have given me the most iconic piece of wisdom of my Severn School career. It was my freshman year and I was running cross country for the first time in my life. Coach Santa noticed that another teammate and I were trailing a little behind the pack and said “Just keep running. No matter how tired you feel, don’t stop and don’t walk—keep running even if it’s at the pace of a slow walk.” This is something I literally replay in my head when I’m running and want to quit. It’s also something that I replay when I feel like giving up on something completely unrelated to running—just keep going. Keep running.

Advice you’d like to impart to the Class of 2020 as they prepare to launch. Take your time. Follow your dreams, but don’t rush the process. What is meant to be will happen, regardless.

Severn School in one sentence. Severn School is an ever-growing, life-enriching, bundle of curated experiences.

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Dominique Thompson Mann '09

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