At the age of 15 Samantha (Sam) Bahena began her journey as a student intern with Advanced Resources. And today at the age of 24, she has risen to the role of Director of Recruiting for that company. In Sam’s sophomore year at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep she was placed in a CWSP job at one of our CWSP business partners, Advanced Resources, a leading staffing and recruitment firm in the northern Chicagoland area. Little did she know that this internship would foster not only professional growth but also a lasting, impactful relationship between mentor and intern, transforming a school requirement into a career-defining opportunity.
The 2016 Emmy Award Winning video, A Day in the Life of a Cristo Rey Student- Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep followed Sam throughout the day as she prepared for work at Advanced Resources. During the feature, Sam says she felt like her work was meaningful to the company, even at her young age. She states that CRSM students like her “go to work to pay our tuition, but the companies actually want to give us a chance to have an experience”. Advanced Resources opened the doors to an intern experience that would stick with her for life.
While working for her supervisor, Dina Fiorelli (also featured in the video), Sam found not only a mentor but a friend. Dina, now the President of Advanced Resources, lauded Samantha’s capabilities as a student intern. “Initiative work ethic, competence, those are just a couple of words to describe her”, says Dina in the Day in the Life video. “We have no problem saying she’s an intern, she’s here with Cristo Rey, and she’s fantastic. We always have to remind ourselves that she’s only 16.”
After Sam’s high school graduation in 2017, Dina and Samantha continued to collaborate, even as Samantha pursued higher education. Samantha worked towards her bachelor’s degree and her career simultaneously, with Dina’s encouragement to stay on part-time at Advanced Resources. Their connection strengthened over the years, evolving into a friendship that Samantha deeply cherishes. Sam expresses her gratitude to Dina during her most recent interview, and says that “she’s been a part of every milestone in my life, and I’ve been honored to witness her milestones, like recently becoming a mother of two… She goes above and beyond as a boss, mentor, and friend. She’s a genuine, good person, and very successful in her career. I feel so incredibly blessed to have learned from one of the best people in our industry.”
Their professional relationship transcended time and titles. Dina’s support remained unwavering, allowing Samantha to grow both personally and professionally. “I had the most incredible experience working with Samantha Bahena… Her drive and professionalism were over and beyond all expectations. Ten years later, I sit side by side with her, where she now works as a full-time, permanent employee. I am extremely grateful for the CWSP program to introduce the two of us. She is an absolute pleasure to have on the team, and I have enjoyed watching her grow personally and professionally.”
7 years after graduating, Samantha emphasizes the significance of the work done as a CRSM student, highlighting the positive impact of early professional exposure. “I would advise every (CRSM) student to be a sponge. Take in every opportunity and have the ambition to want to learn more,” says Samantha. “The work that you do as a CRSM student is so important because you are given these opportunities before you even graduate high school, let alone college.” The CWSP’s success is not just in preparing students for college and life but in shaping lifelong careers and relationships, as demonstrated by the enduring collaboration between Samantha and her mentor, Dina Fiorelli.
Thank you Advanced Resources and Dina Fiorelli for being the outstanding Business Partner you are, and for helping Sam grow and develop into the professional she is today!