Igniting Dreams

Andrea Gonzalez, Rocketship Mateo Sheedy & Santa Clara University Alumna

My name is Andrea Gonzalez and I am a proud Rocketeer alumna and a proud graduate of Santa Clara University.

I am the first member of my extended family to attend or graduate from college, earning a degree in computer science and math. I now work back at my middle and high school alma mater Alpha Public Schools as a data analyst, helping teachers like you see and understand your students’ academic results.

And it all started at Rocketship. I moved to Rocketship in second grade because I was not getting what I needed from the school I was at. My family heard about the core values and academic rigor of Rocketship and thought I would benefit from being part of the Rocketeer community.

From day one, I loved all of my Rocketship teachers. Each one invested in me as a learner and person. I got encouragement and wisdom every day and felt that I had people in my corner supporting me on my path to college.

I also got to do music through our enrichment class – connecting with my friends, teachers, and the music in a completely new way that made me feel part of a larger community of learners. This community also came together every morning to sing and dance. And after all these years I still more or less remember the chant we said every morning: I am a Rocketship Rocketeer at home, at school, and in my community… and together, we are all Rocketship Rocketeers!

Looking back so many years later, I am extremely grateful for the crucial foundation that Rocketship gave me to thrive in middle school. Rocketship Mateo Sheedy is where my love of math started, specifically with those one minute multiplication quizzes we did all the time. My love for math and learning only grew in middle and high school and eventually led me to fall in love with computer science.

I earned a nearly full-ride scholarship to major in computer science at Santa Clara University. During my time at Santa Clara, I had the privilege of joining various clubs and meeting incredible people who helped me grow both personally and professionally. I danced in Folklorico, connected with a supportive community through the LEAD program which is the first-generation program at Santa Clara, and developed strong relationships. Through my service fraternity (APO), I made service a core part of my identity and flourished as a leader.

As I stand here today, a college graduate, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for how Rocketship not only prepared me for academic success, but also empowered me to believe in myself. In a world where opportunities are often limited by one’s background and circumstances, Rocketship is a beacon of hope and possibility. My hope is that every single Rocketeer has the opportunity to go to college and fall in love with learning just like I did.

Just like how I fell in love with the Percy Jackson series because of Mr. T. Him reading it to us on the carpet, doing every single voice and intonation, completely captivated me. Hearing that series got me hooked on reading – in the car, between classes in middle school, and any time I could find a quiet moment to read at home. Falling in love with reading was critical to keeping me on the path to academic success and made me who I am today.

Thank you to this entire community and the values each of you helped instill in me as a young person and in each of your Rocketeers every single day. Thank you for all that you do!

Published on August 23, 2024