Student Spotlight: Jesus Gonzalez

Jesus Gonzalez, UC Berkeley, Business Administration Senior 
2019 Youth Champions Graduate at South Gate High School

Through Youth Champions, I gained confidence in my abilities not only through the opportunities provided for me but also because the mentors constantly repeated to us that we are capable of great things and were always supporting us. I was inspired to apply to various scholarships prior to my arrival at Berkeley, came into university with prestigious awards, and worked hard to be rewarded departmental awards for my work at Berkeley. As a result, I am grateful that my family and I have not paid a single cent because of my scholarships.

I will always be thankful for the generosity I was shown by those in the program, especially Jack and Cambria. I still recall the great experience we had on the rope course and the generosity shown to my family and I at the end of year Youth Champions dinner.

I want current Youth Champions to realize it’s never too late. You have people who believe in you, you have people you want to see you succeed. There are plenty of opportunities available to you, but you need to take advantage of them.