Second chance at a dream: Gonzalez finds success at San Jac

Rebekah Gonzalez was 18 the first time she stepped onto a college campus. For a girl who had grown up singing in her living room, music was the only career she had ever considered. 

Thirty years, two marriages, and one hard-won sobriety later, she walked across San Jacinto College’s graduation stage earning her Associate of Arts degree in music — and she is just getting started. 

A detour, not a dead end 

Music found Gonzalez early. Her father came home one day with an organ he had pulled from the side of the road. He set it in front of his daughters and told them to see what they could do. 

While her sisters eventually drifted toward other interests, Gonzalez remained focused — singing and teaching herself to play. She carried that love to Texas State University, where she enrolled as a music education major in 1996.  

Two years later, she became pregnant with her first son and left school. What followed was nearly two decades of survival: abusive relationships, addiction, and the constant work of keeping herself and her children safe. Even during those difficult years, music refused to let her go entirely. 

In 2002, while pregnant with her third child, Gonzalez was cast in a production of “Once on This Island” performed by the Circle Arts Theatre in New Braunfels. 

“It was unforgettable,” she said, “I was surrounded by wonderful artists who have gone on to pursue great careers.” 

The stage gave her something the rest of her life at the time could not — a place where she belonged. She doesn’t shy away from talking about her past. 

“My son asks me why I share my story,” she said. “It’s simple: People won’t understand me if they don’t know.” 

Finding her way back 

When Gonzalez got sober and left her second marriage, she knew she needed something to keep her pointed forward. She thought about the girl with a dream she had been at 18. 

“I remembered who I was going to become back then,” she said. 

She enrolled at San Jac five years ago, determined to finish what she started. But the road back was not smooth. When she learned that some of her Texas State credits would not transfer, she spent two days crying. 

“I thought, ‘I’m almost 50. What am I doing?’” she said. 

Still, she pushed forward, retaking courses — music theory, sight-singing, and choir — across four semesters. She credits much of that perseverance to her boyfriend, David, who drove her to campus because she did not have a car and helped cover ride services when he could not. 

Eventually, something shifted. 

“I realized that this is the do-over time of my life,” she said. “I’ve got over 100 credit hours. I would be a fool to quit now.” 

She also wanted to set an example for her children. 

“I just want my kids to see me happy and know that they can be like that for their families,” she said. “If they invest in themselves and trust that they can make it happen, that's the perfect recipe for success.” 

It’s never too late 

In 2024 and 2025, Gonzalez qualified for the Texas Music Educators Association honor choir. In high school, she had always fallen short, but at San Jac, she finally made it. 

She has been accepted to the University of Houston to complete her bachelor’s degree in music education. Her goal is to become a choir director — not for the salary, she is quick to say, but for the feeling. 

“I want to be the one leading a group of people toward one collective, beautiful masterpiece,” she said. “That’s always going to be the best seat in the house.” 

She had a glimpse of that life once, years ago when a church noticed her talent and asked her to lead music for vacation Bible school. The circumstances at home made it difficult to pursue, but now she is closer than she has ever been. 

A message to others 

To anyone considering returning to school, Gonzalez does not hesitate to offer advice. 

“Just do it,” she said. “If you waste all your time doubting yourself, you’re never going to know what you’re capable of.” 

Thirty years ago, Gonzalez walked away from a dream. In May, when her name was called and she crossed the graduation stage, it was not just a diploma she received. It was everything she fought to get back. 

Learn more about San Jacinto College music programs

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About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.