✨Introducing Alumni Updates✨

At Destination: College we love staying in touch and giving support to our alumni as they progress through college and beyond. Today we proudly launch a new and ongoing feature called Alumni Updates, highlighting the stories of Destination: College alumni now in College. For our first story, we proudly introduce you to Heily Gonzalez, who will be graduating from Cornell University in 2026. Heily stays in touch with Destination: College Board Member, volunteer and mentor Tracy McVey. Thank you to Tracy for initiating and facilitating this piece. We’ll let Heily tell you what she’s up to in her own words…read on!

“I am currently a senior at Cornell triple majoring in Government, Sociology, and American Studies with a minor in Law & Society. 

This year has been a culmination of everything I’ve worked toward. 

I’ve taken upper-level courses that deepen my interest in immigration, inequality, and public-interest law, and I’ve maintained strong academic standing while balancing several leadership and community roles on campus. 

I recently completed my term as President of the Dominican Students Association, and this is my fourth year in Cornell’s Black Ivy Pre-Law Society, where I serve as the Vice President of Academics. 

I am also a member of the Sabor Latino Dance Ensemble, which has allowed me to stay connected to my culture while performing across campus. 

Beyond campus involvement, I interned at Proskauer Rose LLP over the past two summers and gained hands-on legal experience through the Cornell Public Defender Program and Cornell Law School’s Asylum & CAT Appellate Clinic. 

These academic, leadership, and legal experiences have shaped my direction and strengthened my preparation for law school.

Short term, I am applying to law school with the goal of enrolling in Fall 2026. I hope to continue building on my legal experiences through internships, mentorship, and community work. 

Long term, I plan to pursue a career in public-interest and immigration law, focusing on expanding access to justice for immigrant and first-generation communities.

I also plan to continue growing INSPIRE, the nonprofit that Maame Forson (Harvard ’25) and I co-founded to advance opportunities for first-generation high school students.”

We at Destination: College are all incredibly proud of Heily and her accomplishments thus far and are excited to follow and share in her journey.

Stay tuned for more Alumni Updates coming soon!

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