Hello! My name is Liz Gonzalez and I am super excited to join the Dream Academy Team! I was born in Salinas and lived most of my childhood in Big Sur and Seaside. My parents immigrated from a very small ranch in Zacatecas, Mexico. I have always admired my parents hard work, sacrifices and dedication to our family. I am the eldest of five and first in my family to graduate from college. My academic journey began at Monterey Peninsula College, I absolutely loved it! After two years I transferred to CSU East Bay to complete a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The challenges I faced as a first generation student motivated me to pursue a Master of Arts in Counselor Education from San Jose State. I began my career in education as the Migrant Counselor at El Sausal Middle School. Besides my parents, there were very few adults that encouraged me to further my education and think about career options. It has been my persistence and self-motivation that has helped me reach my goals. As a school counselor, my goal is to support and provide students with the skills to develop a growth and career mindset.
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
– Vincent Van Gogh