2024 GIFT Recipient Noemi Hernandez

In her own words
Since I was a child I've always known that I wanted to go to college and it was something that I saw in shows, movies, TV series, and sometimes real life. Now that I have that opportunity I don't want money to be a barrier form me and a teaching career. By going to college I would be the first in my family to be receiving a higher education which is something that is already making my parents extremely proud.

My parents are both immigrants and they sacrificed a lot for me and my sisters and even though they tell me constantly how proud they already of me for getting college completing my degree and becoming a teacher would make them much more happy.

Every time I think of the teacher I want to become I always go back to my 3rd grade teacher because she truly was one of a kind. I've never had a teacher quite like her and just her way of teaching, being a teacher, and just simply being a human made her loved by everybody and I want to be like her.

I want to bring happiness to others when they're sad. I want to give students inspiration when they need a reason to continue to grow. I
want to give students reassurance that everything will be okay once they leave high school. I don't want students to be pressured on choosing a major for college. I want to be a teacher who is always there and is able to give joy and happiness to everyone. I want to be like my 3rd grade teacher.

Noemi will be attending the University of North Georgia