The sun is hardly up, birds are happily chirping, and the campus is quiet and peaceful. Not what you think of when you are talking about Skyline. But this is the environment that Pablo Gonzalez knows when he arrives at 5 a.m.
Although this is not his everyday routine, he does occasionally arrive to write and think before the official beginning of the day.
Gonzalez is the EOPS/C.A.R.E., CalWORKs Service Coordinator, and also a published author of seven, soon to be, eight books.
“My primary job is to provide information to low income students,” said Gonzalez.”We have a very cohesive team that works for the same goal, which is to provide opportunities for students to succeed.”
Gonzalez said he has three passions, writing, public speaking, and playing soccer, although not necessarily in that order. Gonzalez was a student at Skyline who played on the soccer team and was elected MVP. According to Gonzalez when he started attending school here, he was unable to write a one page paper, because he was an ESL student, having been born and raised in Mexico. The books that Gonzalez has published are in English and Spanish, and he recently taught a class in South City called “Transformational Power of Dreams,” which he wants to bring to Skyline.
“He is a great advocate for community college students,” said Javier Urena, CalWORKs counselor.
He continues his hobby today by playing indoor soccer in South City at the indoor field. According to Gonzalez some of the people he plays with are Skyline students who he works with at school as well.
“I first met Pablo when I used to be a student here,” said Urena.”What I can tell about Pablo personally is that he has been a mentor, he really believes that education can provide opportunities for student success.”
Gonzalez said many times that he loves his job, and hardly feels like he is working. He said he has a reputation around his colleagues for not working, which is not a bad thing.
“If they think I am not working it’s a good thing, that means I’m doing my job and I love it,” Gonzalez said.
Although not all of the students that Gonzalez works with are majoring in English, or love to write as he does, he is a firm believer that every student has a talent and something that will make them a success.Gonzalez believes the key to being successful is to find something that you are so passionate about that it moves you, after that, you will not settle for anything less.
“Love what you do and do what you love, then you never have to work a day in your life,” Gonzalez said.
“Other students introduced me to Pablo and he has been a great resource, not only for the potential applicants for EOPS, but also for the community,” Urena said. “I think he is a great guy, and now he is my colleague, but as a student I listened to many of his stories.”
All seven of his books are in the Skyline College Bookstore, and in the fall they will most likely be joined by his eighth, which is going through the final process of being published.
“Personally I think he has inspired me in different ways. I have read some of his books, one of his first books of poems. He published the book probably ten years ago.”Writing a book seems like a difficult task, but according to Gonzalez if you do something with a level of commitment that you won’t settle for anything else, then the book starts to write itself.
“It is still a lot of work, but it is rewarding.” Gonzalez said. “We ourselves are our greatest obstacle, and if we are willing to fight our deamons and fears we can achieve our dreams.”
“I wasn’t willing to let go of my dreams, and when I get the nervous feeling before speaking, I think of it as energy,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez encourages students to try new things, and pay attention to what they feel. “I picked up some clay on Dec. 24, and just started molding it, when it was done it was a sculpture of my Mom,” said Gonzalez. “I showed it to my father and my brothers and they asked me when I did it and how long it took.”
Amazingly it only took him two and a half hours, and it was the first time that he ever touched clay.
When asked his closing thoughts about Gonzalez, Urena said, “Congratulations Pablo, on your new book!”
On Tues. April 15, at 7 p.m. there will be a showcase of Gonzalez’s book “Andrea’s Dream” at the Grand Ave. Library, 306 Walnut Ave. South San Francisco.For more information on this event please call (650) 877-8530.