From Scholar to Board Member: Stephanie Gonzalez’s Story

When Stephanie Gonzalez was twelve, she was already taking on more than most kids her age.

When Stephanie Gonzalez was twelve, she was already taking on more than most kids her age. “I’m a first-generation; oldest daughter,” she said. “I had way too much responsibility on my shoulders.” Growing up in Southern California, her family moved often, which made her childhood even harder. “We were evicted a handful of times. I went to three different elementary schools. It’s hard to build something when you’re moving around a lot.”

That constant change left her craving stability. She found it through a dance program called The Wooden Floor.

“One arm of the organization offered family counseling,” she recalled. “I told them I wanted to go to a private high school. One of the counselors did some digging and landed on Hope Ignites. She actually drove my mom and me to the interview.”

Christmas morning at Hope Ignites California. 

At first, the idea of a residential program was daunting for her mother. “It was like, ‘Okay, she just stays here?’” Stephanie said with a laugh. “But I wanted that experience. I wanted to create new opportunities for myself, prepare myself to go to college, and finally have my own space.”

She entered Hope Ignites Southern California (then called Boys Hope Girls Hope of Southern California) and found what she had been missing: stability.  

 “It was an environment that felt reliable and conducive to my goals and dreams,” Stephanie said.

Stephanie Gonzalez (middle) with two friends from the cheerleaading squad at Rosary Academy, where Stephanie went to high school.

At her new school, Rosary Academy in Fullerton, California, Stephanie discovered a love of English and literature. “I was really into English as a subject,” she said. “I took both AP English Literature and AP English Language. I loved reading. I still have some of those books—they hold sentimental value.” One of her favorite memories was the school’s annual Red and Gold competition: “a school-wide production with dancing, cheer-like drills, and theater. I loved being part of it. I’m still close with a couple of the girls I did that with.” 

When college came around, she aimed high. “One of my house parents from Hope Ignites took me on college tours in the Northeast. Boston College was my favorite visit,” she said. “There was another scholar there at the time, so I stayed overnight and got to shadow him in class and hang out with his friends. I loved it.” After landing on the waitlist, she followed up with a letter and eventually got in. “One of our donors at Hope Ignites Southern California, Roger Kirwan, was a BC alum,” she said. “Between that connection and my follow-up, I was able to get in. I’m so grateful that I did.”

Stephanie graduated from Boston College with dual degrees in psychology and sociology. After working in Boston for a number of years, she moved to New York to pursue an MBA from New York University. Her career path wound through talent acquisition and marketing at major companies before eventually bringing her to Nike.

“Funny enough, I started working part-time at a Nike store,” she said. “It was a second job to my day job. I wanted a hobby that paid me, not one that cost me money.” What began as a side hustle quickly opened new doors. “My experience spoke for itself,” she said. “I got to tell retail leaders about my recruiting background and the value I could add. Eight years later, here I am.” Stephanie now lives in Portland, Oregon working at Nike’s headquarters managing aspects of talent attraction and employer branding.

Stephanie Gonzalez studied abroad in Milan, Italy, during her MBA at New York University.

“I think Hope Ignites gave me sponsorship,” she said. “I was always motivated. What I needed was a stable environment, someone to invest in me, and to help me see what was possible.”

Today, she gives back as a board member for Hope Ignites Southern California. “I’ve helped vet staff and candidates for the program,” she said. “I think having me in the room helps parents feel more confident. They can see someone who went through the program and is thriving.”

To any young people who might be thinking of joining Hope Ignites, she says: “This experience is what you make it. You can squeeze as much out of it as you want, or you can be passive and just get your degree. For me, I wanted to maximize it. Try new things, ask questions, take every opportunity at my disposal.”

Then, after a pause, she smiled and added, “Jump in with both feet. You can always change your mind, but you’ll never know what’s possible unless you give it a try.”