Let’s give a warm “Spotlight on Seniors” welcome to Gina Gonzalez- Pewaukee High School

Please tell us a little bit about your family.

My family and I have always lived in Pewaukee. My mom is an art teacher at Lake Country School in Hartland, and my dad is a firefighter at the City of Brookfield fire department. I have an older brother, Jake, who is 22 and also works as a firefighter/paramedic for Lake Country Fire Rescue. We also have two cats, Chloe and OJ.

What are your interests and hobbies?

I love spending time with my family and friends, working out, finding new places to explore, traveling, cooking and baking, shopping, listening to music, being outside and on the water.

Tell us about one of your favorite classes in school.

My favorite class at school is Insight Elements of Health and Medicine. We engage in learning experiences across the medical field while developing critical skills for the future. In partnership with the Waukesha County Technical College we have the opportunity to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Utilizing Project Lead the Way curriculum, we investigate how to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. We explore how to detect and fight infection, screen and evaluate the code in human DNA, evaluate cancer treatment options, and prevail when the organs in the body begin to fail. Through real-world cases and clinical experiences, we are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, diagnostics, and more. Our skills are applied in a clinical setting at a nursing home and we are also partnered with a professional mentor in a medical career that interests us.

What’s your least favorite?

My least favorite class is math because I like classes where there is more than one answer, and where I can explain my reasoning and thoughts behind a particular answer. I like hands on activities and learning things that I know will be beneficial in my future both personally and professionally.

Do you have a favorite memory from the school year?

My favorite memory from the school year so far was making it to the WIAA Girl’s State Basketball Tournament. I have played basketball since I was in first grade and this was my final year playing. I’m very thankful for being able to end my career with getting runner-up in the state tournament two years in a row. I’m very fortunate to have a team that has turned into my forever friends. My last season of basketball was very bittersweet and is something I will always remember and cherish.

What’s something you worked hard on this past year, a moment or an achievement you’re particularly proud of?

I’m particularly proud of getting my CNA at the beginning of the school year. Through many nights of staying up to study and practicing skills labs, I was able to pass both the knowledge and skills tests to get my CNA. I had a lot of fun doing it, and I’m very glad to have had a fun group of classmates and teachers to help me get to where I am!

What has surprised you most about school this past year?

Something that surprised me the most about this school year is realizing this is the last school year I will be with the people I have gone through school with since Kindergarten. Although I’m very excited to meet new people in the upcoming years, I’m sad that I will never see some of these people ever again or never hear what they ended up pursuing.

What are you looking forward to in the upcoming year?

I’m looking forward to attending Northern Michigan University in the fall. I can’t wait to explore everything that Marquette, Michigan has to offer, and meet new people!

What are some of your goals (academic, sports, personal)?

My goals for after high school are to graduate college and become a nurse and eventually a travel nurse. I also want to take time before I have a family to travel abroad and explore a variety of cultures. I also want to continue to stay active and find even more balance in my life.

What is something you are good at and/or enjoy doing?

I’m particularly good at organizing. I find it very therapeutic and it’s something that helps me stay focused and less stressed.

Explain a time you wanted to give up but didn’t?

This season during basketball I seriously considered quitting for a variety of reasons, but I knew that I couldn’t have that be my last memory of something that I have put so much time and effort into since I was in first grade. I’m proud of the decision I made to stick with it and will forever hold onto the memories and life lessons that basketball has given me.

What are your favorite memories?

I don’t have a particular example, but most of my favorite memories occur when something intimate and small happens. These memories tend to stick with me the most and are something that I look back at often.

Do you have plans for the future?

I plan on becoming a RN, and eventually hope to become a traveling nurse in the following years. Doing this for a few years is a great way to both help people for a living and get to explore many other cities and countries. After a few years doing this, I plan to settle down somewhere and have a family of my own.

If you could do anything, what would it be?

If I could do anything, I would want to travel to all 50 states and to countries that I have always wanted to go to. I love experiencing new places and indulging myself in different cultures to learn more about our fascinating world.

What do you love about Lake Country area?

I love that everyone in the community is close and always willing to help each other out. I love that there’s a variety of activities to do such as going to the lake or spending a night uptown.

Tell us one piece of wisdom you’ve learned so far.

Progress, not perfection.

What is one thing that would make your school better?

As a class, we recently painted our Insight classroom as a class project to better the learning environment at PHS. Although the front entry way of our school has been recently renovated and looks great, the classrooms where we spend most of our day are still outdated and plain. After completing this project in just one classroom, I was already feeling the positive affects. Our classroom is so much more engaging, uplifting, and calming. I hope that in the future all the other classrooms are able to get this kind of update so that students can feel proud of and excited in the classrooms they learn in.

What advice would you give to an incoming student?

Being in high school can be tough, but the best advice that I have learned and would give is to simply just be yourself. It can be hard to stay true to yourself in high school with things like peer pressure and social media, but it’s something that I have always stuck to and it is what kept me happy and worry free. I also heavily focused on keeping my busy schedule balanced. I’ve always made it a priority to get outside, take breaks, or just have a little bit of time to myself at the end of the day to prevent feeling burnt out and stay motivated.