Jaqueline Hernández Manzo is a patient, passionate and adventuresome 18 year-old lady. Although not Hayward Made, has become truly Haywardian, having graduated from Mt. Eden after three years at that school. She comes from a family originally from México: dad from Nayarit and mother from Michoacán. Born in Fremont, was taken to Michoacán, then back to Modesto, and finally, three years ago, ended up in Hayward, her lost and found real home.

At the moment, she is taking General Education classes, as a Biology Major, at Chabot College, which she feels is a great college with good GE classes. She figures that she’ll be ready to transfer to Stanford, to then finish her education at UCSan Francisco, meaning that she’ll finish in about eleven years. She knows what she wants, no?
 
In eleven years, Ms. Hernández sees herself as a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon. She had to explain to me what that was. It has to do with everything from the heart to all items in our torso. Impressive. Apparently, this interest goes way back to her younger days when she liked to stethoscope people in her house, and feels that it’s an easy way to truly help people. She will do that either in México or in our Bay Area. México because they lack many essential services, especially in rural areas, and even a small clinic would be of great help. Here, because she wants to give back to her community.
 
How did all this start? While at Mt. Eden, she also attended ROP, saw a FACES poster, and decided to apply for the program. ‘FACES for the Future at St. Rose Hospital is a 2-year healthcare internship and leadership development program for high school juniors and seniors, which was started in 2007 by Dr. Tomás Magaña. Jaqueline applied and was accepted. She loved the experience, the hours, the professionalism, and the feeling that it was a job and volunteering work at the same time. A future doctor was born!
 
One trait that exemplifies this young lady is her time management skills. She smiles when I mention this. Imagine this: school with classes, FACES, homework, social activities, volunteering, and family. She does love volunteering -- obviously, St. Rose is on the top of the list due to the FACES connection. As a member of the Hayward Rotary Club, I am happy to report that she is there, helping us on our activities, especially at our Omelet Brunches. Also, she applied to the Global Health Program, was accepted, and was lucky to have spent a week in Washington, D.C., all expenses paid! She visited the White House, Howard University, and the rest of that city. A great learning experience, she tells me.
 
Her three Likes include watching soccer games, reading, and animals. Her dislikes include people who mistreat and kill animals, and actually is unimpressed by the recent reversal of the ban on wild animal trophies. It saddens her.
 
Jaqueline Hernández is an impressive young lady. I salute her, thank her parents and her teachers, and am extremely honored and proud to present her to you.
 
Let’s help her, and my other Youngsters of the Month be leaders. They will encourage leadership and volunteerism among their peers, for the benefit of our whole fine city.