2024 GIFT Recipient Noemi Hernandez

August, 2025 Update
This spring semester was very fun and hard work truly did pay off. I got all A’s and made the Spring 2025 President’s List.
I got to hold a giant snake (see photos) during an event for Earth Day and rode a scary ride when we had a carnival. But I did feel immense relief walking out of my last final which was for Biology, I did have a GREAT professor and I learned so much.

An activity we did in Biology was to choose a body system and create a whole project with a representation, a game, and something to eat. I was so glad I got a team who was okay with my idea of bringing in a bear stuffed animal and labeling it with the Endocrine System parts. We also created a fun board game and a rice crispy treat shaped like a thyroid. (See the photo to the left)

Last year at my job there was an open house for all the pre-k kids and I really enjoyed that day and being able to help out the teachers set up and talk to parents, answer questions, offer snacks and beverages, and translate. I felt useful and had hopes of becoming a teacher for the little ones.

This summer I was lucky to get stuck with pre-k kids! I was in a pre-k classroom by myself and my dream came true . . . I was a pre-k teacher! We enjoyed watermelon and popsicles, watched some movies, painted and had arts and crafts everyday. I really enjoyed being with pre-k and the random hugs students give you. It’s been crazy but it’s been amazing watching kids grow and all their silliness.
 
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 for 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 is attending the University of North Georgia