at your best (you are love)

dominique taylor. twenty. junior. int'l business. marketing. dance. . pi beta phi. ○ a capella. campus activities council. radio station.

[elysicnmuses-blog]

Dodie sighed. “Unfortunately that is I — well, without the Starbucks part. Not really a huge fan of their coffee so I go somewhere else,” she shrugged. “It’s for a course in modern poetry I’m doing.”

[domoisms-blog]

“Modern poetry? That sounds cool,” Dominique lied. She liked the idea of poetry, but it came off as dry to her, more often than not. Poetic prose, however, was a different story. “What’s the book called?”

[elysicnmuses-blog]

“all i’ve been trying to do is find a quiet place that isn’t my room to read this fuckin’ book. however, everywhere is too loud. the coffee shop was the last straw. i got coffee dumped all over me. i give up. it’s a really good book too.” dodie groaned, wracking a hand through her tangled locks.

[domoisms-blog]

Dominique winced, “Oh, so you’re the walking Starbucks,” she smirked, quickly trying to fix her face so that Dodie didn’t think she was laughing at her misfortune. “What book is it, anyway? Is it for a class?” 

[adclina-blog]

‘ do you wanna know what i can’t fuckin’ stand? ’ adelina began, fiddling around with a few stray locks of hair. ‘ when you make plans with someone, get dressed up and lookin’ cute for your night out, then get a text message from them thirty minutes before you’re supposed to meet saying that they have to cancel. ugh. you do know what this means, don’t you? ’ the girl inquired, letting a few seconds drift by before she continued. ‘ you’re taking me out tonight. i don’t care what the fuck we do, but i’m not letting two and a half hours of hair and makeup go to waste because some asshole decided to bail. comprénde? ’

[domoisms-blog]

Hearing Adelina’s rant, Dominique understood her frustration. While she both loved and hated when plans get canceled (hated when if she’s super psyched to go out, hyped when she was iffy on going in the first place), Adeline was right, makeup was not cheap. Dominique wasn’t exactly the clubbing type-- she enjoyed it when she went, but she definitely wasn’t there every weekend. If she goes, she needs at least two weeks to cool down from the experience. Club life was hectic. “I’ll take you out,” she mused, thinking that tonight might be the prime time to go. It was Memorial Day, and it seemed as if everyone was in the mood to celebrate. “And I did just buy a new pair of shoes... It’s not college night, but if we look pretty enough we might get in free anyway. Should we?”

[petalips]

“fuck summer. i want it to be dark and misty and frigid and october, like my soul. …wait, not the october part.”

[domoisms-blog]

“As much as I love the summer sun and the tan I get, dark, misty, and frigid is equally great weather. It’s inspiring... Plus, Fall fashion is the best fashion. Can’t wear leather jackets in July.”

[melodrcmcs-deactivated20190910]

❝ do i honestly look like i’ve cleaned a single thing before in my life? i’ve got the entire summer do my work, it’s just a mild inconvenience which i honestly shouldn’t be experiencing right now. ❞

[domoisms-blog]

“Um,” Dominique let out, struggling to come up with a response for Noor’s question. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say it at all, right? So she didn’t. “I guess you’re right,” she skipped right on over that part of the conversation. “Sucks that it’s taking so long, though. Maybe you should leave a review.” 

[plsmilo-blog]

“Is that not a good price for someone else’s labor because you’re a shitty cook?” He questioned, honestly not knowing how much someone would want to basically serve him food. “I think I paid twice that much if not more at this one restaurant in Florida for one.” Miles admitted pulling out slices of bread and placing them on the plates in front of them. “Go for it, have two if you want even. This loaf of bread is made for a family, not for one college student who also has a meal plan. It would end up moldy by the end of the week if I didn’t share it.”

[domoisms-blog]

“It’s a perfect price, I cook for my house sisters for free, so,” she smirked, graciously accepting the bread as she went to work prepping the sandwiches. Hearing Milo’s comment about the twenty dollar grilled cheese made her pull a face, halting all of her motions for a minute. “Wait. A whole bill for cheese and bread? It had better been the finest of cheeses... Something aged, artisanal. From farm raised,  grass fed goats,” she laughed. “Served with some bacon on it, at least.”

[domoisms-blog]

DOMINIQUE N. TAYLOR                  X FAVORITE ANIMATED SERIES

Samurai Champloo ○ Sailor Moon ○ Cowboy Bebop ○ Invader Zim ○ Death Note ○ Steven Universe ○ Courage the Cowardly Dog ○ Michiko and Hatchin ○ Winx Club ○ Ben 10: Alien Force ○ Durarara!! ○ Black Lagoon ○ Ahh! Real Monsters ○ Kim Possible ○ Batman: The Animated Series ○Teen Titans ○ Fullmetal Alchemist ○ Samurai Jack ○ Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters ○ Beetlejuice ○ Full Metal Panic! ○ Monster ○ The Powerpuff Girls ○ Archer ○ Tokyo Ghoul ○ Attack on Titan ○ Beelzebub ○ Aqua Teen Hunger Force ○ InuYasha ○ Code Geass ○The Legend of Korra ○ Black Butler ○ Futurama ○ Danny Phantom ○ Daria ○ Fruits Basket ○ Avatar the Last Airbender ○ Gintama ○ Neon Genesis Evangelion ○ Hunter X Hunter ○ Codename Kids Next Door ○ Pokemon ○ Drawn Together ○ Ouran High School Host Club ○ Bleach ○ Blue Exorcist ○ Naruto ○ Dragon Ball Z ○ Dexter’s Laboratory ○ Adventure Time ○ The Amazing World of Gumball ○ The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy ○ Lloyd in Space ○ Soul Eater ○ The Mightiest Disciple Kenichi 

[domoisms-blog]

DOMINIQUE N. TAYLOR                  X WORDS TO LIVE BY

I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself. D. H. Lawrence

You are terrifying…and strange…and beautiful. Magic.  Warsan Shire

To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one's potential. Bruce Lee

Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come. Audrey Hepburn

Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. Charles Dickens

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. Henry David Thoreau 

We are what we believe we are. C. S. Lewis 

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up. James Baldwin

Well-ordered self-love is right and natural. Thomas Aquinas

[domoisms-blog]

○ Dominique N. Taylor – Social Media

[coopertfw-blog]

“ – Academic advisors are seriously the worst. I was on the phone with him for about two hours before we got anything settled. I’m just trying to get out of here and graduate but they can never fit you into the right classes. I’m already starting my fifth year, you would think they would consider me a priority !”

[domoisms-blog]

“Yeah, don’t put your future in the hands of advisers. They have hundreds of students to be responsible for. Plus, no one knows your plan for the present and the future like you do. I feel for you though, the one thing we should be able to count on them for is to get you in the classes you need when you need them.”

[melodrcmcs-deactivated20190910]

❝ i bought a new scientific calculator three weeks ago, sent it off to get customised over a week ago and it still isn’t here. guess i can’t do any summer work until it’s here. so, when’s the next party because there’s no way in hell i’m borrowing one from the department. who knows where they’ve been. ❞

[domoisms-blog]

“All you need is some Lysol, girl. Maybe a Chlorox wipe. Don’t let the untimeliness of the delivery mess with your studies like that. I don’t have any math classes this semester, just Finance, but I don’t need a scientific calculator for that. If you’re a super duper germaphobe, you can borrow mine until yours gets here.”

[plsmilo-blog]

All I really want right now is a grilled cheese. Though it’s surprising that I can even think about eating right now with the smell or burnt bread filling the halls. Maybe that and the fact that I burned the last two are a sign that I should quit while I’m ahead… What I’m trying to get at is if I pay you, will you make me one? I’ll give you $10!

[domoisms-blog]

“A tenner just to slap some butter and bread on a skillet? Deal,” Dominique agreed quickly. The school didn’t even pay her $10 an hour to sit at a desk, answer phone calls, and help people find their lost dorm keys at the help desk in the student union. The grilled cheese would take fives minutes at most. “Shoot, I might make myself one, too.”

[nighthwks]

“don’t you just love freshmen? they’re so… fresh.”

[domoisms-blog]

Dominique cracked a hesitant smile, quickly withdrawing it as she leaned away from the brunette. “Faulkner, that’s creepy.”

[domoisms-blog]

DOMINIQUE N. TAYLOR -- BIOGRAPHY

X YOUTH IS HAPPY BECAUSE IT HAS THE CAPACITY TO SEE BEAUTY

Dominique Nichelle Taylor was born in the winter of 1996, just under a week before Valentines Day. She began to make her arrival on a cool, crisp morning, not settling into her parents arms until a lazy 5:17 pm. She was born to professor and historian Stephen and CPA Bethany Taylor of Bellevue, Washington; two loving parents of an already three year old Micah. Stephen always called Dominique a star child, as she was always filled with joy– it fascinated Bethany how quickly Dominique could go from a quiet, settled interest to intense ebullience. The extroverted introvert always found something to be excited about.  

After neighbors and dear friends Brandon and Breanna, with whom she always watched Saturday cartoons with– Codename Kids Next Door, Dragon Ball Z, Dexter’s Lab, Naruto, and Courage the Cowardly Dog were among their favorites– introduced her to Tokidoki, Dominique was hooked. She had the shirts, the notebooks, the backpacks, the sneakers, the stickers, the pens and markers– everything. One day while picking up fresh, new Tokidoki (and Lisa Frank) notebooks and pencils for the upcoming school year,  Dominique ran across a small brown plush figure that looked like a Fudgesicle, if she was honest. When her eyes fell across the advertisement, she quickly saw that the toy was called Domo. A new nickname was born when her older brother Micah became increasingly impatient at her questioning him on whether or not she could pick it up and add it to the cart. He replied with a simple, yet clearly irritated, “Okay, whatever, Domo. Let’s go!”

X I NEVER SAW A WILD THING SORRY FOR ITSELF

Though Domo grew up in a household with parents that loved and nurtured her, that would do anything under the sun for her, she felt her share of insecurities during her adolescence. She suffered by comparing herself her best friends, her classmates, people she didn’t even know. She suffered because of things that, in hindsight, she would’ve laughed off– ‘Why aren’t I in their top 8 on Myspace?’ She suffered because of more dire things. “Harmless” bullying. Harmless bullying by dance instructors (overhearing the, ‘your daughter gained a little bit of weight over the school year, maybe you should put her on a diet. We have tough competition this season and all of our dancers need to be in tip top shape.’.). Harmless bullying by classmates– (’hey Domo, Elliot wants to go out with you!’ ‘Eww, no I don’t!). Even her brother told her to toughen up, to have some thicker skin. If she was older and wiser, she would’ve replied that she’s not a rhinoceros, she’s human.

Once she felt brave enough to talk to her parents about her feelings, she started to feel the effects of “harmless bullying” by society. She’s still feeling the effects. She’s still trying to unlearn the idea that ‘you’re so articulate!’ is a compliment. She’s still trying to unhear what her dance teachers may have said about her skin not matching with leotards they’d order, she’d stand out too much. Trying to unhear what her old soccer and track teammates had the nerve to say about her tresses after long afternoons of pouring blood, sweat, and tears into the game. She’s still trying to unlearn what she’d been told about her hair, and her skin, and her intelligence. But so is everyone else. Even with the ignorance of present day, all the memes she sees on twitter about black women and their worth, seeing what the worth of black lives is (or lack thereof) in the media, she recognizes this.They’re in need of unlearning it, too.  

Don’t get her wrong, Domo had always loved herself. This just made it a little harder, a little more foreign. How can you upkeep self love in a world that only tells you that you should hate yourself?

She takes it all in stride. Dominique takes the advice her parents, especially her mother, had given her over the years about being a young black lady. About how to love yourself and the skin you’re in. About just who you belong to.

X JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF NONE

…yet. Dominique loves philosophy and respects Socrates, but she wholeheartedly disagrees. She feels called to do not one, not two, but many things. Rather than confine herself to one niche of existence. she aims to become the Renaissance Woman, dabbling in multiple fields of career and life. Dominique plans on mastering them all and then some.

Having always expressed herself through a myriad of outlets, Dominique is always busy and always involved in something. She’d been taking dance lessons, vocal lessons, and music lessons since she was a young girl, alongside her other extracurricular activities. After middle school, the only one of the three that stuck was dance, and she’d participated in more competitions with a summer travel team than she could count. Dance medals, plaques, and trophies (with some soccer and track medals littered in) dominated her family’s den, both her and her two sibling’s life accomplishments standing proudly against walls and shelves. She’d come a long way with her teammates, having made some of her best friends from the team. They’d traveled outside of the country together, sweated in unison, and sometimes trained until their feet bled. They were her sisters and brothers, and they still are. Naturally, her parents always assumed that her college of choice would be Julliard. Sure enough, Dominique went all the way across the country, as expected. Instead, unexpectedly, she chose Yale as her new location for personal and career development. She’s happy in her choice.

X PICK THE DAY. ENJOY IT– TO THE HILT

Presently, Domo is still busy! She is exploring both her diplomatic and business savvy side with her double major of International Business and Marketing, and keeping herself fit and active (and of course, for that necessary dose of familiarity) with her Dance minor.  While she’s currently searching for a worthwhile internship opportunity, Dominique has picked up an unlikely skill with her old Pi Beta Big who graduated last year that opened up a bakery downtown. She wakes up early on Mondays and Wednesday mornings to frost various sweets for an hour and a half (if she can draw Kagome and Kikyo dueling, surely she can draw a rose on a cupcake in icing, right?). She giggled to herself when she was able to put ‘Pastry Artist’ down on her Linkdedin account, way at the bottom. In addition to this, she has the pleasure of working at the help desk in the Student Union during lunch time, as well as giving sporadic campus tours to prospective students throughout the year.

She’s involved in three clubs; A Capella being the first one she joined. She hadn’t sang for anything other than recreation in years when she entered Yale as a freshman. She sure as hell had never sang anything a capella before. However, just like everyone else, she’d seen Pitch Perfect, and thought it was a cool idea! Two years later, and here she still is. The next club she joined was the Campus Activities Council, which practically fell into her lap after repeatedly emailing suggestions to the webmaster of the club website. Eventually, they reached out to her and offered her a position as member, to which she agreed! The Campus Radio Station was introduced to her by a friend who commented on her diverse taste in music, her obscene amount of it (’I didn’t know anyone actually carried a 120 gig iPod classic around anymore’), and tendency for her awakening to beat the sun’s. She snagged a 5 A.M. to 6 A.M. slot on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the beat has been going on ever since.

Most importantly, she’s apart of the fraternal sisterhood of Pi Beta Phi, women she’s fellowshipped with, broken bread with, philosophized with, stressed over finals with, and worked on grad school applications with. When they said you had sisters for life, they weren’t kidding. Dominique loves these ladies and would do anything for them.