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Honors Program

Diana Gozales

Diana Gonzales
Honors LDE Coordinator

Why Honors?
I loved my experience in the Honors Program when I was a student. This was by far the most impactful and most exciting part of my undergraduate experience and after deciding that I wanted to take a gap year before applying to law school, I wanted to give back to an organization that helped me in so many ways.

List Honors involvement
Honors Student Leadership Secretary 2021-2022
Honors Student Leadership President 2022-2023
Honors Student Advisor
Honors Teach Assistant Honors 120 from 2020-2023
Honors Teaching Assistant Honors 110

One major contribution to the Honors Program as Student Leadership President includes creating the Taste of the World Event in collaboration with the Office of Belonging. While Honors Student Advisor was part of the creation of the Thesis Support Group and I ran it my last year in Honors.

What exactly is your role as a leadership coordinator?
My role as LDE coordinator includes guiding, mentoring, and helping students come up with and get connected with Leadership Opportunities here on Campus and Office Campus. Students can come to talk about their different ideas of what they can do to fulfill their leadership requirement. I would encourage students to come see me if they are trying to figure out what type of leadership opportunity, they would like to participate in.

What advice would you give those trying to choose between the two leadership experience options (HSLC, HONRS 310 & HONRS 390R)?
It really comes down to timing and commitment. HSLC requires you to do your LDE during the fall and winter semester. This is an exciting and yet time-consuming organization that might not fit in with your schedule, not to mention that there are limited positions available.

What made you want to become the leadership coordinator?
I loved my experience in the Honors Experience. This was by far the most impactful and most exciting part of my undergraduate experience and after deciding that I wanted to take a Gap year before applying to law school, I wanted to give back to an organization that helped me in so many ways.

Why do you believe that the leadership experience is important to the practicum of the Honors Program?
I would not be the person I am if it were not for the leadership experience in the Honors Program. While I was a confident person before my Leadership Development Experience, I grew in ways that I never before believed I could, I learned so many valuable lessons and skills that have become a blessing in other parts of my life.

Could you provide a brief overview of your thesis topic?
My thesis was on the Politics of DACA. I researched and explored what factors lead Republicans to feel so divided about DACA. DACA is a protected status for undocumented youth that come into the United States and many Republicans have different views on this group of protected individuals.

Why did you join the Honors Program as a student?
I joined Honors when I was a camp leader at the Foundations of Leadership Camp. My camp partner was a Honors 120 TA and after telling him about what I wanted to get out of my undergraduate he convinced me that I should join the Honors Program. I have loved it ever since.

What was your favorite part of the Honors experience?
Being part of HSLC was by far such a cool experience. I made lifelong friends and I got to serve and be served in ways I did not expect.

How have you seen what you learned in the leadership experience effect your BYU experience as a whole?
What you put into college is exactly what you get out of college. Because of my leadership experience in the Honors Program, I have a clearer understanding of who I am and what God has planned for my life. What I mean by that is that I have the confidence to try new things that perhaps I would have considered scary or out of my reach before.

What motivated you to pursue a career in law?
I have always been a curious and critical person, so law school was always on my radar in my undergrad. My decision was further solidified after participating in the Latinx Civil Rights Seminar. This program opened my eyes to the history of immigration in this country. As part of the program, we got to go to California and visit some Latinx Civil Rights leaders who shaped immigration law in the United States.

What is your favorite quote and why?
I recently read the “Moment of Lift” by Melinda Gates and there is a quote at the end that has really impacted me. She says, “If I ever see myself as separate or superior, if I try to lift myself up by pulling others down, if I believe peoplare are on a journey I have completed, doing personal work I have mastered, attempting tasks I’ve accomplished—if I have any feelings that I am above them instead of trying to rise with them, then I have isolated myself from them. And I have cut myself off from the moment of lift.”

What’s one item on your bucket list?
Go to the World Cup with my family. We are soccer fans in my family, and this is a must.

What are your favorite books?/ What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Dune. I normally do not read Sci-Fi but this book has been really interesting.

That are people often surprised to learn about you?
My birthday is on January 1st which makes me a New Years Day Child. People are surprised when I tell them about all of the different foods that I have given up as part of my New Years Resolutions every year. This year my resolution is to give up social media. So far so good.

What has been the most significant plot twist in your life?
I thought I would meet my husband at Law School but instead I met my husband at the airport. I did not think I would get married so young, but I am glad that I did because I would not have accomplished what I have without my husband.

What is something you can never be found without?
Food. I am also the Nursery president, and you will always catch me with a snack, a drink, or something to eat.

When you have 30 minutes of free time, what do you do?
I love to sew. Sewing is my second passion. I am not a quilter but I love making clothing, blankets, and all sorts of crafts! I do not buy things if I know that I can make it.