Satrese

I have lived in North Chicago for the last 20 years. I'm originally from Waukegan, but I resided in Zion before moving to North Chicago. Even though I was born and raised in Waukegan– lived there– never really frequented in North Chicago. Had a few friends and family members here, but they always came to Waukegan. So I wasn't familiar with North Chicago itself. When I first moved to North Chicago, I was a younger lady... didn't really have a serious, focused outlook on life. I didn't move here to become a home owner or business owner, I just moved here for work. My focus was just going to work making a living for myself. And that was it. But as my kids begin to get older, and I'm raising my family here, and purchasing my home here, that's when I began to realize that North Chicago had some issues. Issues that I never thought about before becoming a home owner or business owner here.

When I purchased my home, I didn't do all my research, as far as the school system, and you know, what the district had to provide for my kids– because I was just happy to become a homeowner and have a home for my children to grow up in. I wasn't thinking about what the school system had to offer. As they got older… that's when I began to realize, wait a minute– it seems stuff going on here. There were no consequences for what was going on. People were just taking advantage, and at the end of the day, the kids are the ones that suffer.

From what I'm reading and seeing locally in the newspaper and a community bulletins– we have these charter schools that are popping up, trying to come into our community. So they still have current issues going on– instead of getting the problems fixed within the schools they're taking the kids out of the district and moving them to the charter schools, so they're still not progressing with the issues that they currently have going on.

I have my home here for the last 18 years. So you just try to make the best out of a situation that's not as promising as it could be.

If you weren't a multi-millionaire, but you could still move anywhere– where would you go what would you do? Would you still be a beautician?

Yes. I would only take so many clients a week and probably just work maybe a few days a week– you know, just to keep myself going.

Just your movie star clients?

They're all movie stars! But yeah, I would I wouldn't overbook, I would just do a few people.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I enjoy that intimate relationship with my clients and enhancing their views. When you get a person in the chair that's going through something down and out, or, you know, don't feel that great about their outward appearance. And then you give them a hairstyle that makes them smile. And they feel like, “Oh, this is so gorgeous!" I look so good!” That right there is the biggest payoff.

What's the downside?

The downside is getting clients that you can't satisfy– that complain and nag. Not even so much about their hair, just negative people. You encounter so many different people, but it would definitely be the negative people. Because I'm a positive person– and I like to give positive advice and be a positive influence on people and motivate them. And when I find a person that I can't reach, that's kind of disappointing.

Have you always been that kind of person? Have you always been positive?

I've always been positive. But um, the only difference is getting older– with maturity, I've learned to not let things bother me. I have other things to worry about. Grown kids, grandkids, college students, so I don't let the little things get to me.

What traits do you possess that others admire in you?

The fact that I am so-o-o positive and happy, and outgoing. I try to give good advice– positive advice. I usually when I give advice, I try to go spiritual. And I'm good at that. Because over the years, I've had people come back and thanked me and tell me things and tell me stuff that I told them that I didn't even remember. And just the fact that they remembered and they came back and thanked me was like, Okay, well, I'm glad I gave you good advice. I'm glad I was positive and spiritual.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

Don't burn bridges.

Did you get that before or after you had already burned bridges?

I got that when I was 12 years old. And my stepdad told me, You never burn bridges. Meaning, you never know when you have to backtrack and go back to people. Deal with people. So you always do your best and you give your best. And try to be your best because you never know when you'll need someone in life.

What about the worst advice?

Treat people the way they treat you. [laughter]

Because that can get messy and ugly?

Because if people are ugly to you, if they're mean to you they do something wrong, you don't want to you don't want to treat them the way they treat you because then you know that brings them back karma. The Bible tells you: reap what you sow: so if you'd be nasty to me, I'm gonna still be good to you. Because I want good to come to me.

Do you have words that you live by, or a motto or credo for life?

Every day is a blessing and a chance at new grace and mercy. So I just wake up and be thankful for being here.

Have you always had this connection to your faith?

No, of course. Of course not.

What what brought it about?

I've always known the Lord, loved the Lord. Grew up in church, but as I got older, I would say over the last maybe about maybe five, six years that I've really truly have gotten serious about my faith. Just seeing the things that go on in the world every day on a day to day basis, and how much evil and corruption is going on. You know, the devil is busy. Yeah. And at the end of the day, I'm like, I want to stay protected, you know, I want to stay covered. I'm the blood of Jesus, on the top of my head to the soles of my feet. So I try to live right. And I try to, you know, give God his honor and keep him first in my life, and just, you know, try to live and be progressive.

You face with stuff every day. Whenever I'm going through something I try to just stay positive and spiritual. You know, because at the end of the day, if I'm a Christian, that means I'm Christ-like, I'm striving to be like Christ. So I can't let the devil have power over any situation. And when you give into stuff and react negatively, or you know, let them get the best of you, or have you step out of character, and act like them, you you're doing the same thing as they are. The devil, the devil is getting the glory, and I don't want him to get no glory in my life.

How do you reach those people? How do we do Do? Do? Is there a way to turn those people who who are so negative around?

You just kill them with kindness, don't get offended, you're just gonna kill them. Now, you know, you just you kill them with kindness. And you know, you just be nice, no matter what the situation is. I'm good for Jesus, you know, Jesus, I had to just Jesus say his name. Because you know, you, you know, you have to you have to pick and choose your battles. So I mean, I honestly, the only thing that really gets to me is my children. Because you know, kids go from being on your lap with a little soul in your heart. So that's really the only thing that gets me, you know, out of context when it comes to my kids. Other than that, nothing else really, yeah, none. Other than that, nothing else really gets me to the point where I'm really upset. I don't get upset and angry like that anymore. If it's not affecting my kids, I'm not giving it that much glory.

Other than your children, what are you most proud of?

The maturity and growth in my spirituality. I haven't got to the point where I can turn the other cheek. But at the same time, I'm not easily offended, you know, things don't get me down.

What's your idea of the perfect day?

Staying at home in a bed and not having to get up and go to work– and no bills to pay.

Edited and condensed, this conversation took place in 2016.