About
Spotlight Haley Gomez
Name: Haley Gomez
Age: 18
Hometown: Born in Dalton but home is Charlotte, N.C.
High school: Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Major: Accounting
Expected graduation date: Spring 2021
Why did you choose Dalton State? It’s super close to my family, and I enjoyed the small campus community. It makes it feel more like home and the students like family. Initially, I planned to transfer, but all the roots I planted here made it hard to leave. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else other than in Dalton.
What does it mean to you to be part of the Roadrunner Nation? It means to be a part of something bigger than just obtaining an education. We all have the opportunity to make a difference. Dalton State plays a big role in our community, and every student contributes to improving it. There are so many ways to get involved on and off campus.
What do you plan to do after graduation? I plan to attend Kennesaw State University for graduate school to obtain my master’s in accounting. Then hopefully go on to obtain my CPA license, and begin my practice in Charlotte.
Who is/was your favorite professor and why? My favorite professor I've had so far is Patrick Ryle. He’s a fairly new teacher on campus, but his class assured me that accounting was the career for me. He showed me that accounting is way more than just numbers. It offers you way many more opportunities than just working in an office.
What activities are you involved in on campus? I’m an academic tutor, senator at large for the Student Government Association, and the treasurer of Sigma Tau Delta.
What are some of your biggest achievements or accomplishments at Dalton State? Graduating with my Associates in Science at the age of 17 with the class of fall 2018. It was something I’ve worked so hard for, and it felt surreal when it actually happened.
Where is your favorite hangout? You can catch me a majority of the time hanging out in lower pope. I love the environment there. Everyone is just talking and relaxing in between classes.
What is the last book you read? The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Favorite comfort food? Definitely grilled cheese. Anytime I’m feeling sick the only thing I want to eat is grilled cheese.
What is your guilty pleasure? Organizing. It could be 2 a.m., and I just get the sudden urge to color coordinated my closet. I love watch Marie Kondo on Netflix.
What do you feel most proud of? I’m most proud of all the downsizing I’ve done over these past eight months. I’ve been on the road to becoming more minimalistic, and it has brought me so much peace. I recommend watching “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things” it a really eye-opening documentary.
What is a skill you’d like to learn and why? I’d like to learn a new language. I’d either want to learn Arabic or American Sign Language. I encounter a lot of people who communicate using these two languages, and I’d like to be able to have a conversation with them.
Who is your hero? My hero would be both my parents. They have sacrificed everything so that my siblings and I can have the best life possible. They’ve always pushed me to do my best and never let me give up.
If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet? I’d love the chance to meet Martin Luther King Jr. I’d like to know what motivated him to keep pushing through all the adversity he faced.
What is your favorite app? My most used and favorite app would have to be Netflix. I like that I can pick up right where I left of whether it be on my TV, Phone or laptop.
Where is your favorite place to eat? My favorite place to eat is currently TK wings. Their lemon pepper wings are heaven sent. I was barley introduced to it this semester by my friend Eduardo who put me on, and I’ve gone at least twice a week since then.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be an FBI agent with every bone in my body. My favorite show of all time was and always will be Criminal Minds. I wanted to grow up and be just like Spencer Reed, Penelope Garcia and Derek Morgan.
As a Roadrunner, what does it mean to Run Boldly? It means to have a vision and be willing to do anything it takes to accomplish your goals.