On the Trail with Kristen Gonzalez: Explore the Path We’ve Traveled

Life is an Adventure. Let’s Explore the Journey Together!

In education and expanded learning, we often take the path less traveled – the unpaved trail that leads to exploration and adventure! The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is excited to spotlight the journeys of the BOOST Leadership and BOOST Ambassador teams in the Fall 2025 Collaborative Blog Series – Share Your Career Journey: Explore the Path We’ve Traveled. Thank you to these important BOOST partners for taking the unpaved trail and adventuring into the unknown for the betterment of our youth and communities.

Experience the trail with Kristen Gonzalez (she, her). Thank you, Kristen, for inviting us to join your journey! We appreciate you!

Explore the Path We’ve Traveled with BOOST Leadership Team Member, Kristen Gonzalez (she, her)

Kristen is the Program Manager for Harmonium, Inc. in San Diego, CA, and a proud member of the BOOST Leadership Team.

What is your career path journey? How did you get involved in the out-of-school time, expanded learning, and/or educational fields?

My career path took off when I was working with children while in high school. I spent summers at our city’s resident camp in the mountains, and later worked as a teacher’s aide at a Head Start program connected to my school. After graduation, I returned to the camp, and once summer ended, I took a job at a city park, handing out recreation equipment and art supplies to kids after school. I loved every moment of it.

When I started college, I majored in Art History with dreams of working in a museum, teaching students about art during field trips. But life had other plans. After moving to San Diego and needing a job, my sister-in-law helped me land a position at the Boys & Girls Club in Escondido. That experience changed everything. I realized that Art History wasn’t my true path, so I pivoted my major to Child Development. Later, I made another college pivot, when I majored in and earned my BA in Organizational Leadership. 

That decision opened the door to a full-time role as a Site Director for the East County YMCA. From there, I became a Child Care Coordinator, then a Program Director at another YMCA. I briefly worked for an actuary — and quickly discovered that spreadsheets weren’t my thing. Thankfully, I was offered a position as the Child Care Program Specialist for the YMCA of San Diego County, where I stayed for 20 years. Those years solidified my love for training staff and helping programs achieve excellence.

Eventually, my journey brought me back to the Boys & Girls Club, then to the Children’s Initiative as a Program Specialist, where I had the opportunity to support ASES programs across the county. Today, I’ve come full circle, working in licensed, fee-based before and after-school programs as a Program Manager.

Looking back, I’m amazed at how this path unfolded. I was raised by a single father, and in some ways, I always felt the need to care for those younger than me. To this day, I still want children to be valued and cared for. It was a long path from high school to now! 

What part of your career path has surprised you most?

When I think about my career journey, the biggest surprise isn’t a single job title or promotion. It’s how the field of youth development became my lifelong calling.

I didn’t set out to work in education or expanded learning. I wanted to work in a museum, but my heart had other ideas. I found myself energized by the creativity, the chaos, and the joy of working with kids before and after school.

What surprised me most was how each role — from Camp Counselor to Program Director — built on the last in unexpected ways. I never imagined I’d spend 20 years with the YMCA, training staff and shaping programs that impacted thousands of children, and then another 10 with other organizations helping others provide high-quality quality expanded learning programs. I never thought a part-time job would turn into this.

But, the biggest surprise? That this work chose me. It wasn’t part of my original plan, but it’s become the most meaningful part of my life. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

Who has supported you on your journey as a mentor, colleague, or friend?

What keeps you in the field?

I stay in this field because I believe deeply in the ripple effect. Every leader I have the privilege of mentoring and supporting goes on to impact dozens — sometimes hundreds — of young lives. Their growth becomes a catalyst for change, and their stories become part of a much larger legacy.

Hearing how they’ve inspired others, built meaningful programs, or created safe spaces for youth fills me with joy. Knowing I played even a small role in their journey reminds me why this work matters — and why I’m still here.  

As you continue on the journey, what areas of leadership are you developing in yourself?

What skills are the most crucial to succeeding in this field?

Working in the out-of-school time and expanded learning field is incredibly rewarding — and incredibly complex. Every day brings new challenges, new opportunities, and new chances to make a difference. 

Skills including Empathy, Patience, Problem-Solving, and Communication are not only skills I think are crucial to the field, but they are foundational to the work we do every day, every hour, and every second. 

What would you recommend others pack in their “career backpack”? Why are those items important?

You’ll need a good pair of comfortable shoes — because some days, you’ll walk miles (literally and emotionally) to get the job done. Whether you’re moving between classrooms, campuses, or community events, your feet will thank you.

You’ll want a pack of mints — for those days you forget your water bottle and your mouth is dry from talking to kids, families, and staff nonstop (and for when the kids say you have bad breath …haha).

Most importantly, you’ll need a growth mindset — the belief that you can keep learning, keep improving, and keep making a difference. Whether it’s in the life of a child, a coworker, or even yourself, your impact is real and it is lasting.

Tell us about your BOOST adventure? When did you get started?

What is the best mistake you have made in your career? What did you learn from it?

Looking back on my career, one of the biggest mistakes I made was not asking questions when I was stuck or unsure how to move forward. I used to think that asking too many questions would make me look weak — like I didn’t belong in the role or wasn’t capable enough to figure things out on my own.

But I’ve learned that the opposite is true.

Asking questions doesn’t make you look unqualified — it makes you look engaged, curious, and committed to doing the job well. 

Now, I see questions as a tool for growth. They open doors to new ideas, deepen understanding, and build trust. They show that you care enough to get it right — and that you’re not afraid to learn.

So if you’re ever unsure, ask. Ask again. Keep asking. It only will give you the wisdom needed to continue the work. 

Today, for breakfast, I had…

My favorite: Toast with Butter and Marionberry Jam… and Coffee.