"Not only can you be informed about politics, you can actually shape politics, especially at the local level, in a very real way."

Sadaf Jaffer '01 has a prestigious day job, two day jobs in fact: teaching courses on Islam and South Asia through literature and film while also working on a book about secularism among Indian intellectuals as a post-doctoral research associate at Princteon University's Institute for International and Regional Studies. So what prompted her to add to her workload and run for public office? Read more.

Class of '01

“I don’t usually start out with a specific image in mind. The final work is a result of the process.”

Ezra Miller '15 recalls a point in the summer of this year where he was stressing over a project. He was commissioned by fashion house Balenciaga to create a video for Paris Fashion Week that would be displayed on the floor and walls of a giant tunnel made up of hundreds of LED panels. The idea, a brainchild of Canadian conceptual artist Jon Rafman, was that models would walk through the tunnel for a 15-minute performance. Read more.

Photo credit: @ezzzrrra via Instagram

Class of '15

"If I can get an 8-year-old to think about ownership from the simple act of giving her shares, then why can’t I do that with 10 more kids, a 100 more, 1,000 more?"

Latin alum Rendel Solomon '96 is on a mission to instill a sense of hope in underserved youth by turning them into empowered shareholders. Inspired by his great-grandparents' experience as sharecroppers in the early 1900s and his 8-year-old niece's interest in learning what it means to be a shareholder, Solomon founded the nonprofit organization One Stock One Future. Read more.

Class of '96

“At Latin, I learned how to persevere through challenges.”

Pam Netzky '93 is the first to admit that she was not the world's best student at Latin. "School did not come easily or naturally for me," she said. But making it through did teach her skills that have served her well. "At Latin, I learned how to persevere through challenges."

Netzky has seen more than her share of professional challenges as she has followed her passions and her entrepreneurial spirit to build a SkinnyPop empire.

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Class of '93

“There were years between jobs – very long years – when I was wondering whether I should have really gone into finance. But somehow I was able to always bluff my way into a part or a writing job. I think people realized that I was willing to do just about anything.”

Ike Barinholtz '95 is having a good year. He has his dream job playing Morgan Tookers, an ex-con male nurse with a heart of gold, on "The Mindy Project" while at the same time writing for the show with his longtime fellow alum and writing partner Dave Stassen '95. Read More.

Class of '95

“Latin taught me from a young age how to be organized, think critically and manage a rigorous academic load.”

Erin Hanlon '95 always knew she'd be a teacher – she just imagined her students would be a bit younger.

"I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a small child," she said. "I had envisioned being a kindergarten or grade school teacher, so my current career path is somewhat different than what I thought it might be." Read More.

Class of '95

“I received an outstanding education at Latin.”

Even in high school, Illinois Attorney general Lisa Madigan stood out because of her political awareness and commitment to social justice issues. She was active in student government, and vocal about her opinions on topics ranging from women's rights to apartheid in South Africa. Madigan went on to study government at Georgetown University and worked for Illinois Sen. Paul Simon in Washington, D.C. After college, she spent a year volunteering as a high school teacher in South Africa.

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Class of '84

“Latin opened my eyes to how much could be accomplished if I took things seriously. If I want something, I know I just have to put the work in to get it. That has turned out to have a really great impact on my life.”

"You have one life. Why not give a little to make things better for yourself and those around you?"

By his early 20s, Billy Dec was known as Chicago's leading nightclub impresario. These days he is making a name for himself nationally as one of the city's most successful restaurateurs and entertainment entrepreneurs. Read More.

Class of '90