Angie Gonzales
Cavalry Episcopal senior Angie Gonzalez has perfected the art of time management as she combines school work and activities, community volunteer work, and a 30-40 hour per week job to help pay for college.
Starting in her junior year, Angie has worked 30 to 40 hours per week at the Greatwood Chick-fil-A to help pay for college. “My biggest obstacle was time management. I wanted to be able to work and still excel in school. It was a struggle for me because I thought it would be really easy, but I realized that I wanted to focus on school and still be able to participate in my outside activities and be able to work.”
This semester Angie earned all A’s and a higher GPA. At Chick-fil-A, she recently got a second promotion as assistant manager of service. “It’s a really cool experience. At first I was a team member, and after six months I got my first promotion. Time management really helped me a lot.”
Last year Angie qualified for state in TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) Spanish competition and will compete again this year. She is also a member of Student Council and has served as its president, vice-president and secretary and has been president of National Honor Society two years.
At Cavalry Episcopal, Angie is president and coordinator of PALS (Peer Assistance Leadership Service). A favorite project is Mix It Up Day where children are encouraged to make new friends and increase their social boundaries. “Too many times social boundaries prevent students from working together, being friends and forging relationships. Whenever you start building relationships in elementary school, it really improves motivation for school and motivation to excel in other things outside of school. It’s a national campaign that we’re trying to get started locally.”
Students are seated with peers they don’t know and are encouraged to talk to each other. They are taught the harmful effects of bullying and intolerance.
Angie is also involved with an outside school activity, Youth in Philanthropy. Last year she received a $500 scholarship for her work. “I volunteer with Fort Bend Family Promise, Child Advocates and the Women’s Shelter. There are so many non-profits in our community. It really helps me connect that back to my school, because then we can help them out.”
Angie would like to attend either Baylor University or Texas A&M and major in nursing or biology for a career as a neonatal nurse practitioner.
Her advice to underclassmen is to take advantage of the opportunities available. Learn how to time manage, take school seriously and work hard to get a high GPA.
“I’m very blessed to attend Cavalry Episcopal mostly because I get the opportunity to become a first-generation student to attend college in my family. That’s one of my biggest achievements, so when I graduate, I’m definitely going to be proud of that.” Angie added that it is a great joy to have received help and support from the faculty to achieve this feat.
Congratulations to this hard-working senior whose future looks so bright!