“The only destiny made for people in my neighborhood is either prison or death.” - Carlos Gonzalez '25
Carlos believes Siena's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) – and a distant shimmer of Siena gold – saved him from a more likely destiny.
Carlos wears the chain around his neck on special occasions, for example – when he's presented with an academic or service award (and there have been several) or when he sat down for this interview. There's a pendant on the chain that cradles a picture of Brandon Hendricks. On those special moments, when Carlos is in the spotlight, he wears the chain because Brandon deserves moments like these, too. Plus, Brandon's memory remind's Carlos of what could have been.
Carlos was a very good basketball player for James Monroe High School in the Bronx. Brandon (below) was an exceptional basketball player. A year older than Carlos, Brandon graduated in the summer of 2020 with a full-ride basketball scholarship to St. John's. At a barbecue, just a few days after graduation, Brandon was killed by a bullet meant for someone else.
A year earlier, the basketball team took a mandatory field trip to a college showcase. The players were required to maintain a 3.0 GPA to be basketball eligible. Basketball was the carrot, and it worked. Carlos had the grades to go to college, which was a path few people in his neighborhood pursued. "Prison or death." At the showcase, Carlos saw a hint of gold at a table across the room.
"My high school colors were red and gold, and I don't know, I just felt drawn to the Siena table when I saw the green and gold. I met Dale Taylor '02, one of Siena's Admissions counselors. He showed me pictures of campus. It looked amazing. Right then, Siena became my dream school."
More than a year later, Brandon was killed. Carlos was determined to go to college for both of them, and for his mom. She attended classes, but dropped out when Carlos was born. Dale had told Carlos he'd be a perfect candidate for HEOP, so Carlos applied to his dream school.
"If it wasn't for HEOP, I wouldn't be at Siena. This was my first choice. I didn't even know what I wanted to major in. I just knew I wanted to be at Siena."
Carlos changed his major a couple of times, then found his calling when he took his first social work class.
"My motivation is to help others. The social work professors are so passionate about what they do. I don't want anything in return, I just want to give back. I'm blessed that I've earned so much already. It's the way I was raised, I want to give a portion of that to others."
Carlos plans to be a clinical social worker and would like to open his own practice. The goal is help people, one-on-one, and he's getting on-the-job training as the head counselor for the HEOP summer program.
"I'm getting a sense of what my career will be like. I'm working with the students and giving them that extra motivation. I need to make sure they come back as 'A' students in the fall."
Two years ago, a street in the Bronx was renamed in Brandon's memory. It's a literal sign that his life positively impacted others, and continues to. Carlos, of course, keeps Brandon's memory alive as well. "Prison or death." There need to be more options accessible, not only to the children from their neighborhoods, but the entire Bronx borough. Carlos believes he can make a difference, by helping one person at a time.
"I look forward to working more with Carlos during his Junior year. I had the opportunity to assist with the admissions process for Carlos and witness his leadership and service on Siena's campus. Carlos was nominated and won the Father Noel Fitzpatrick, OFM Award for leadership and involvement of various activities within the college community. Carlos has also served as a mentor and peer counselor for the incoming freshmen participating in the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). Carlos has demonstrated not only the characteristics of a great leader but someone who is empathic, compassionate and dedicated to improving the overall well being of individuals while fostering cultural humility inside and outside the community. All of these traits not only embody the social work profession but are the building blocks for social change. All of which Carols has demonstrated with ease; he will be an amazing addition to the field."
Davina Mayo Dunham'20, MSW, Program Coordinator, Siena Social Work Department