Pacifica Stories

Danielle Golson grew up in a town 30 minutes outside of Sacramento called Granite Bay. She attended Azusa Pacific University to study Christian Ministries with a concentration in Youth Outreach and Discipleship. Danielle’s faith and love for connecting with youth have been strong influences on her educational pursuits, and this has carried over into her career aspirations. After finishing her degree at APU, she attended Seminary at Princeton Theological Seminary where she received her Masters in Divinity. Danielle says that one of the most significant lessons she learned while in college was the importance of giving herself the freedom to explore her genuine interests and passions without the pressure to pursue what she believed others wanted her to study.

Danielle has known since her time in college that she wanted to work with high school students in some capacity as her profession. She knew that Pacifica would be the perfect fit for her due to the amount of time her position allows her to spend with students in order to cultivate meaningful relationships with them. The relational emphasis that Pacifica encourages between students and faculty/staff is a unique part of our school environment, and allows for a more personal academic experience that focuses on students as whole people.

Danielle was able to strengthen these bonds with students as a chaperone on Pacifica’s spring break trip to France this past year. She spent over a week exploring Paris and Normandy with freshmen and sophomores, creating memories, and guiding students through international travel. She also sat as a judge at this year’s Mr. Pacifica Male Beauty Pageant. Although she has only been at Pacifica for one year, Danielle has made her mark on campus by seizing opportunities to connect and engage with students.

“I am passionate about the work I do at Pacifica because I love watching young people grow, change, mature, and flourish, while acting as an advocate and supporter every step of the way,” said Danielle. “My favorite part of my job is the amount of time I get to spend with my students. Whether I'm helping them sort out their schedules, cheering them on at a game, or offering a snack and words of encouragement, I am blessed to get to spend most of my day with my incredible students! I specifically love working with teenagers because high school is such a beautiful time for young people to discover what they love, who they want to be, and why it all matters. I love being one of the many people that help our students discover these answers as they emerge into adulthood!”

In her free time, Danielle likes to explore all the different coffee shops and restaurants throughout LA. She considers herself a huge foodie and loves discovering new types of cuisine wherever she can.