{"id":1432,"date":"2024-10-22T12:31:04","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T17:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/campaigns.uthscsa.edu\/rebranding\/?p=1432"},"modified":"2024-10-23T08:23:28","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T13:23:28","slug":"first-gen-overcomer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/campaigns.uthscsa.edu\/rebranding\/2024\/10\/22\/first-gen-overcomer\/","title":{"rendered":"First-gen Overcomer – Carlos Hernandez"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Carlos Hernandez, first-year dental student, in the School of Dentistry\u2019s simulation laboratory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Written by\u00a0Kristen Zapata<\/a><\/h4>\n

First-generation graduate and first-year dental student Carlos Hernandez has faced a challenging path to be where he is now, including the experience of his childhood home burning to the ground. Raised alongside his seven siblings by a single mother, first in Mexico and then immigrating to the U.S. as a boy, Hernandez learned early on the value of hard work.<\/p>\n

Every summer, he and his brothers worked on fields in Indiana to earn money for school clothes, guided by their mother\u2019s wisdom that anything worth having must be earned. His grandfather pushed him to pursue his education by reminding him that without a focus on his future, he could spend his life in those fields.<\/p>\n

Hernandez credits his family and Mexican-American heritage for teaching him resilience, the importance of community and a deep sense of responsibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in a household where taking the first step was the hardest part,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a first-generation Latino student, we often don\u2019t have guidance and are afraid to take risks. My mother always told me, \u2018Vergu\u0308enza es que te pesquen robando, no por andar pidiendo ayuda,\u2019 which means, \u2018Shame is getting caught stealing, not asking for help.\u2019 This reminder has helped me overcome fear and push forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

These lessons influence how he approaches life, and now, patient care. For those who, like him, face barriers to accessing health care, Hernandez\u2019s goal as a future dentist is to ensure that all his patients receive the care they deserve, regardless of their background.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by\u00a0Kristen Zapata First-generation graduate and first-year dental student Carlos Hernandez has faced a challenging path to be where he is now, including the experience of his childhood home burning to the ground. Raised alongside his seven siblings by a single mother, first in Mexico and then immigrating to the U.S. as a boy, Hernandez […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":913,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alter-egos"],"yoast_head":"\nFirst-gen Overcomer - Carlos Hernandez - UT Health San Antonio Spirit Week<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/campaigns.uthscsa.edu\/rebranding\/2024\/10\/22\/first-gen-overcomer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"First-gen Overcomer - Carlos Hernandez - UT Health San Antonio Spirit Week\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Written by\u00a0Kristen Zapata First-generation graduate and first-year dental student Carlos Hernandez has faced a challenging path to be where he is now, including the experience of his childhood home burning to the ground. 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