Mickey D’s has always been a quick way to get a hamburger. Its standing in the U.S. market dates to the 1950’s with original owner, Ray Kroc. Over the years, McDonald’s has expanded, franchised and kept up with changing and challenging times regarding their menu and the needs of their immediate community.
McDonald’s has also been an initial steppingstone and first job for many students throughout the decades. It’s been an entryway to corporate America in one’s teenage years. Many famous people, politicians and professionals claim to have been a McDonald’s employee, their very first job.
McDonald’s, a strong believer in education founded a program called Archways Opportunity ten years ago. Since, it has allowed its employees to earn a college degree while employees of McDonald’s
Denverite, Karla Gonzalez has been an employee of McDonald’s since 2020. Gonzalez graduated from Lakewood High School and has worked at McDonald’s since. Following her high school graduation, she attended Community College of Denver for a couple of years while holding a steady schedule at McDonald’s.
Gonzalez soon researched and learned about and applied for the Archways Opportunity program. She was accepted into the program, and it covered most of her tuition at CCD. She later transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Gonzales continued her employment at McDonald’s and applied for a master’s program in social work with the same Archways Opportunity Program and was accepted.
With long hard hours at McDonald’s and college assignments, after 5 years of employment and school, Gonzalez recently acquired her master’s degree in social work. She also completed an internship with the Office of Alternate Defense Counsel and has applied for a permanent position with the federal agency.
Gonzales is grateful to her parents, Maria Villalobos and Carlos Gonzalez for their encouragement and support. She praises the McDonald’s corporation for the resources available for employees to pursue an education beyond high school. Gonzales adds, “I’m grateful to McDonald’s for the resources available. I’m happy to be a role model for my two younger sisters.”
During challenging times, many corporations like McDonald’s offer up financial support for their employees. Corporations deliver on social responsibility to their communities by seeking ways to offer their employees a pathway to continued education.
Gonzalez was initially unsure how her parents would pay for her education. With so many academically able students, whose downfall is lack of financial support, many students never pursue their dreams. Gonzales offers, “My advice to high school students is to seek financial resources and other resources to help you pursue an education. She adds, and “believe in yourself.”
For more information on the McDonald’s Archways Opportunity program, visit https://www.archwaystoopportunity.com/
