Daisy Fregoso Gonzalez

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Education: (May 2026) Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies and Communication Arts – UW-Madison

Hobbies: Dancing, Watching Reality TV (DWTS, Traitors, Big Brother, Survivor), Reading, and Hand Sewing. 

Fun Fact: I had a pet rooster and hen for a summer in the city.

What was your best/worst student job or internship?

My first internship was for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee Graduation Plus. There, I worked as an AmeriCorps College Coach supporting the team with summer academic camps for high school students from the metro-Milwaukee area who were interested in attending college but may not be familiar with the process. It truly pushed me to learn how to adapt how I engage and interact with students of different grade levels. Every day was completely different (which I loved!) and exposed me to student advising. Sharing my experience with the college admission process as a first-generation student felt like a full‑circle moment, but what stood out even more was the team culture. Everyone was genuinely passionate about the mission and fostered a sense of camaraderie that made the environment feel positive, supportive, and healthy. I still stay connected with the professional staff and my fellow AmeriCorps Coaches, which speaks to how meaningful the experience was.

What was the best/worst career advice you ever got?

Someone once told me to be selfish when it comes to my career, because I’m the one who has to show up and do the work. At first, I didn’t understand what bad would come from that, as I would be making an impact. I wanted to make my parents proud and honor the sacrifices they made for me. But I eventually realized that I hated the field I had initially chosen for that very reason; it wasn’t truly mine. Once I started choosing based on my own strengths and interests, everything shifted. I performed better, felt more confident, and began exploring fields where I could actually picture myself thriving.

What was a career “mistake” you made as a student?

In my Junior year, I accepted a community engagement internship with a nonprofit healthcare organization. Even though it initially seemed like something I would enjoy, I already knew that healthcare wasn’t a field I felt connected to by the time I received the offer. While I am genuinely grateful for the experience, I wish I had given myself more time to explore opportunities that aligned better with my interests and work style. By not allowing myself to say no, I ended up in a space that didn’t feel like the right fit for me or what I could contribute. I learned a lot that summer, but it wasn’t the most pleasant experience.

What do you wish you’d known about careers when you were a student?

One thing I wish I’d known as a student is that different career fields have completely different timelines. As I moved through college, many of my peers were securing internships early in the school year, but most of them were in fields that recruit much earlier than the ones I was interested in. It took me a while to realize that comparing my progress to theirs didn’t make sense. Everyone’s path moves at its own pace, and just because your timeline looks different doesn’t mean you’re behind.