Where Are They Now? Catching-up with Gonzaga Alums
and their families celebrating such a special day. Graduation was also a very special day because it was the day I accomplished a very important personal goal. I have always tried to be a positive role model for my younger brother and I feel like going to college and graduation definitely impacted him because he also has the desire to attend college after high school. Having my parents, grandparents, and other family members with me to celebrate this accomplishment made this a very special. What was one challenge you faced while at Gonzaga? Balancing school with extracurricular activities was a challenge for me. There were times when I would dedicate more time to extracurricular activities than school work, which would put me behind on homework. I managed to always get my work done but my poor time management caused some unnecessary stress. There were also times when I felt that I was not as involved with activities around campus, as I would have liked, because I was too busy with school work.
Name: Xochitl Velazquez Year Graduated: Bachelors in 2012 and Masters in 2013 Major/Masters: Business Administration From: Wenatchee, Washington Activities while at GU: I held a number of officer positions in La Raza Latina while at Gonzaga. As a freshman I served as one of the Advertising Chairs, the following year I became the Activities Coordinator, and my Senior year I was the President of the club. I was part of the BRIDGE program two consecutive years, serving as Parent Counselor and Lead Parent Counselor. I was also part of the LEADS Mentor Program and the Multicultural Honor Society during my last two years at GU. What are you currently doing since graduating? After graduating in May, I returned to Gonzaga to take part in the Master of Business Administration program. After finishing the program in August of this year I took some time off and went back home to Wenatchee, WA. It was nice to be home and spend time with my family. I recently started working for Goodale & Barbieri Company, in Spokane. I am currently the Office Coordinator and Residential Assistant. What do you miss most about Gonzaga? The people! While at Gonzaga I made some great friends which I miss seeing on a regular basis. I miss spending time with them and meeting up for lunch or study sessions. I also miss visiting the staff and faculty members. It was nice going into different offices around campus and talking to the staff and faculty between or after classes. What was your favorite moment at Gonzaga? There were so many great moments while I was a student at Gonzaga, but one that stands out is graduation. It was great to see my classmates Gonzaga university
Were you able to overcome them? How so? Yes! It took some time to figure out what worked best but I was able to manage my time in a way that allowed me to be involved in a number of activities while at the same time staying on track with my school work. Being organized and reassessing my priorities was key in managing my time better. After finding a routine that worked for me I was able to enjoy my college experience without being so stresses out with school work. What was your biggest takeaway from your Gonzaga experience that is most applicable to you after graduating? Something that always stood out to me was how involved the students at Gonzaga were on campus and in their communities. This encouraged me to also be involved in volunteering activities. I enjoyed taking part in different activities around campus and in Spokane which influenced my desire to work for an organization that also valued service and their community. When looking for employment after graduating I made sure to look at each company’s mission and values because I wanted to work for an organization that had a positive impact on the community. What advice do you have for current Gonzaga students? I would tell current Gonzaga students to get involved in different activities and enjoy their time on campus and with friends because time passes by quickly. I remember thinking as a Freshman that graduation was so far away but when I was finishing up my Senior year I realized that time had passed pretty fast. Attending college is a great experience and I hope that all students enjoy their college years. I know I had a great time at Gonzaga and will always remember the friends and great memories I made at GU. What’s next for you? Right now I want to gain the necessary experience that will prepare me for a career in property management. I think that working for G&B is setting me on the right track. I enjoy working for the company and look forward to learning from its staff members. unity multicultural education center