At just 19 years old, Stephanie Gonzalez is already marching toward a future filled with possibility—one that not long ago felt far from reach.

Today, Stephanie is a student at Northern Arizona University and a member of the NAU Marching Band’s color guard, the performers whose flags and movement bring visual storytelling to life on the field. Last May, she auditioned for the band knowing they had been invited to perform in one of the most iconic events in the world: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“I really wanted to get in—especially when I found out they were going to do the Macy’s Parade,” Stephanie said. “I’ve been doing color guard since my sophomore year of high school, so this felt like such a big opportunity.”

Opening the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Stephanie and the NAU Marching Band didn’t just participate in the parade—they opened it, a surprise the band learned about just one week before the event.

“Finding out we were opening the parade was a shock for all of us,” she said. “It made the experience even more exciting.”

Marching through the streets of New York City was unforgettable.

“We marched for about an hour, but it felt like five minutes,” Stephanie shared. “Watching people cheer us on—seeing people watching from the tops of buildings—it was unbelievable.”

Beyond the performance, the band had time to explore the city together.

“We ate a lot of pizza, went to Chinatown, and even had a Thanksgiving dinner cruise through the New York Harbor, where we saw the Statue of Liberty after the parade,” she said. “It was really beautiful.”

Community Through Music

For Stephanie, marching band has always meant more than performing.

“I love being part of a community,” she said. “It’s how I made most of my friends in high school, and now in college.”

That sense of belonging helped her push through demanding practices. The band practiced three times a week for three hours at a time, often in cold Flagstaff weather.

“It was physically exhausting,” she said. “College choreography involves a lot more movement and dance. But struggling along my friends kept me going. We kept reminding ourselves: “We’re going to be in New York, performing on TV!”

A Path Shaped by Resilience

Before college, Stephanie spent several months in HYC’s Hatcher Transitional Living Program.

“Those few months were really good,” she said. “I worked while I was there and made really good friends. I still miss my roommate.”

More than just a place to stay, Hatcher helped prepare her for independence.

“It taught me how to live with someone else, to not be afraid of having a roommate, how to collaborate, keep a shared space clean, and still be responsible for myself,” Stephanie said. “That helped a lot when I got to college.”

Before coming to HYC, Stephanie made the difficult decision to leave an unsafe home environment.

“My parents weren’t very supportive, and it was a really violent place,” she said. “HYC became my home after that.”

Looking Ahead

Stephanie is majoring in Modern Languages with an emphasis in Japanese—a passion she’s had since childhood.

“I’ve always loved learning languages,” she said. “Besides English and Spanish, I’ve studied French and Korean, and now Japanese.”

Her major requires her to study abroad, something she’s eagerly anticipating.

“Most likely I’ll go to Japan,” she said. “Maybe South Korea. Outside the U.S., I’ve only been to Mexico, so I’m really excited.”

A Message for Other Youth

For youth who are experiencing homelessness, who have just arrived at Hatcher like she did, or are unsure of what their next steps may be, Stephanie offers encouragement:

“I know it’s really scary at first,” she said. “I was scared my first few days. It takes time to adjust, but if you keep the mindset that everything is going to be okay, you’ll be fine. You’ll do great things if you stay dedicated and keep a strong mind.”

That strength, she says, comes from thinking about her younger siblings.

“Knowing they might look up to me pushes me to do something with my life,” Stephanie shared. “I want them to be proud of me.”

When she thinks about the future, Stephanie sees multiple paths opening in front of her.

“I’d love to teach abroad, work as a translator, or even become a flight attendant,” she said. “Anything that allows me to use language, travel, and connect with people.”

For Stephanie, those possibilities represent more than career options—they represent freedom, stability, and a life she once wasn’t sure was possible.