For junior Jorge Hernandez, track and field wasn’t exactly a dream—he was essentially pushed into trying it.
“My coaches just forced me to do it because they wanted me to get faster,” he said. “I didn’t want to run, so I did pole vault. So I’m just… not running. And that’s what I like about it.”
As a student-athlete and newly minted pole vaulter, Hernandez’s experience reflects personal growth, quiet perseverance and an overall relaxed perspective on sports and life.
He describes himself as “outgoing, funny, and nonchalant,” traits that don’t fit the standard stereotype of a competitor.
His laid-back attitude may seem deceptive at first, but it masks a strong determination demonstrated with every jump.
At a recent district varsity meet, Hernandez hit a personal best twice.
“That was a memorable moment for me,” he said. “Two PRs in one day? I was proud.”
Despite his success, Hernandez said he has had moments when he considered quitting.
“At first I kind of sucked,” he said. “But I just kept trying because my coach kept pushing me. He never gave up on me, and that’s what motivated me.”
That support helped Hernandez transform into a more confident person, on and off the field.
“Track changed my personality,” he said. “I’m more confident now. I’ve learned not to care what people think, just to be myself and have fun.”
His mindset before competition is simple.
“Not to mess up and embarrass my coach,” he joked.
That sentiment shows the bond he has built with his coach and the support he has received from others who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself.
Outside of sports, Hernandez leads a typical adolescent life, spending time on his PlayStation, eating, and reflecting on life and his athletic performances.
“Sometimes I think about what I could’ve done better in sports,” he said. “But I’ve learned that you just get back up if you fall.”
The demands of being an athlete have affected his social life.
“I don’t usually have time to go out with friends or family,” he said. “Either I’m practicing, or I’m asleep from being tired after practice.”
While the dedication comes with sacrifices, Hernandez is already looking ahead.
He doesn’t plan to pursue athletics beyond high school, but he is confident that the discipline and work ethic he developed will stay with him.
“In five years, I see myself working in a welding company with my dad and owning my own house,” he said.
He also has a more unconventional dream.
“I want to have a farm and own three goats, two cows, and four fluffy chickens,” he said with a smile.
For now, Hernandez is focused on making his mark in his own way and making the most of the sport.
“I just want to be someone my team can look up to,” he said. “A leader.”
And if he could advise his younger self?
“I wish I started pole vaulting at five years old.”
Hernandez has gone from a reluctant runner to a confident competitor, demonstrating that success doesn’t always require following a traditional path. Sometimes, it’s best to do what simply feels right.
With hard work, a unique perspective and a sense of humor, Hernandez shows how sports can teach life lessons that last far beyond the finish line.
