Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2020 - 25

T A YLOR GONSALEZ
F
or most kids, the end of the school year
is a welcomed event that signals a sense
of freedom and release from the burden of
classrooms, homework and responsibility. But
the close of the 2019-20 school year left a number of obstacles
for students and adults to tackle instead.
Since mid-March,
17-year-old Taylor
Gonsalez, a Henry Sibley High School
senior, has navigated the turbulent changes
of COVID-19. Through all of the highs and
lows, Gonsalez has managed to come away
with a positive and appreciative perspective.
Little did she know that when Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz signed an executive
order on March 15, it would be the last time
she would pass through school halls along
with her peers.
" My last day of my senior year at school
Next
Tee
" The fi rst day of the stayat-home
order would've
been our fi rst day of the golf
season. We never even got a
chance to practice together. I was
looking forward to moving up to captain
TAYLOR GONSALEZ
felt like any other day-I went to school
and never had any idea that I wouldn't be
coming back, " she says. " Having prom and
our graduation cancelled was really rough.
I think we're having a graduation ceremony
in August, but it won't be the same. "
Less than two weeks after the shutdown-
while adapting to working from a computer
at home to fi nish her senior year-Gonsalez
received news that she had been selected for
admittance at her fi rst choice of colleges,
prestigious Columbia University in New York City.
" I was really excited to get in, " says Gonsalez. " I applied to a
" I would tell younger
players to definitely
get involved [with YOC],
invest more in the
program and learn more
about it. "
- Taylor Gonsalez
ton of different schools, and [Columbia] was the clear-cut fi rst
choice. They have a large endowment and can really help with
fi nancial aid. The location-New York City-you can't really
beat that. I want to study economics, and they have a really
strong program there. "
Less than a month later, reality set in yet again, with the
April 23 announcement that schools across Minnesota would
stay closed for the remainder of the year. The following day,
board members of the Minnesota State High School League
announced the cancellation of all spring activities and athletics.
Gonsalez's fourth and fi nal season as a member of the Sibley
girls golf team came to an abrupt end before it even had a
chance to begin.
" It's been hard not having a golf season, " Gonsalez refl ects.
mngolf.org
my senior year and doing the end of year
banquet moments and senior day. "
Gonsalez was introduced to the game by
her father, Ray, who is the boys golf coach
at St. Paul's Humboldt High School. She
says her biggest accomplishment on the golf
course during her high school career was
being medalist at multiple meets. At the suggestion
of her father, she joined the Youth
on Course program in 2018 as a way to play
discounted golf at a number of participating
courses in the area.
" My dad had heard about [Youth on
Course] and signed me and my sister up for
it, " Gonsalez says. " I got involved last year and
only started utilizing the cards last summer.
After applying for the scholarship, learning
more about the organization and interviewing
with members of their [board of directors],
I've seen it's about a lot more than golf. "
Not long after learning her senior season
had been cancelled, Gonsalez was named a
Youth on Course Scholarship winner, which
surprised and thrilled her. She highly recommends the program
to other golfers.
" There are college scholarships, internships and programs for
caddies, so it's more about golf and really about the lessons that
golf teaches you, " Gonsalez says. " It's too bad that I got involved
so late in my golf career, because I didn't have much of a chance
to take advantage of it. But I would tell younger players to defi -
nitely get involved, invest more in the program and learn more
about it. "
Aside from her time spent on the golf course, Gonsalez was
a member of her school's debate team, and received additional
scholarships from the Elks National Foundation as well as the
Comcast Leaders and Achievers Program.
" I'm really grateful to Youth on Course for choosing to honor
me with a scholarship, and I'm really lucky that they're helping
me fi nance my education. "
Summer 2020 MINNESOTAGOLFER
25
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Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2020

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