Meet senior Alan Hernandaz. He grew up in Miami, FL and is majoring in creative writing and minoring in computer science. He’s beyond tech savvy. You have him to thank for fixing the issues with our computer labs! He’s currently working as a web designer for the University of Miami Student Support Department and repairs computers in Richter Library and Residential computer labs. He’s been a part of FUC, the Cuban Club on campus and SHIP( Society for Hispanic Engineers).
What are your favorite hobbies?
“I watch A LOT of T.V. I read a lot. I also run, I used to run cross-country. I like going out with friends to Brickell.”
Who do you look up to the most?
“If I had to pick, I would say my parents. They came from Cuba and they’ve went through so much hardship than I’ve ever faced. And they’ve remained good through all of it. It’s something I value… to make it through difficult moments and maintain your integrity.”
What is your ideal super power?
“I feel like any of them come with a backlash. I could say mind-reading but what if I can’t turn it off? Flying as well …you could get hit by a plane. Planes count on there not being people in the sky. If I could control it, I’d read people’s minds. You can comfort people and do a lot of good things.”
What would you do if you won the lottery?
“I would not have a programming day job and I would focus more on my writing. I’d be doing the same thing basically but I’d have more cushion.”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
“Hopefully writing in LA for a T.V. show. I would love to be able to give my parents two or three million dollars and repay them for taking care of me.”
What’s a difficulty you’ve overcome?
“I guess the biggest one would be that I used to stutter, especially in fifth grade. I went to speech therapy for two years and overcame it through different techniques. “
What fictional character do you most identify with?
“There’s a scene in Harry Potter where Harry sees his parents in the mirror and Dumbledore says ‘It doesn’t do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live.’ I identify with that scene, rather than any one character that I’m like ‘That’s me.’”
If you have to choose one person to save during a zombie apocalypse, who would it be?
“I would save the actor that plays Daryl from The Walking Dead. He’s had enough experience fighting fake zombies, I’m sure he can handle fighting new ones.”
What are your plans after graduation?
“I want to get a job and work my way to being a full time writer.”
How’d you say your last year at UM is going so far?
“It’s going well. It’s surreal because my friends all graduated last semester and now I feel like I’m at this ghost that couldn’t move on to the after life, you know that I have to complete this one last thing before moving on. It doesn’t feel grand but I suspect that the feeling will come when the real world hits.”
Tell us about your writing:
“I tend to talk about characters who try to escape their problems and not deal with them. I usually approach any story with a cool premise. In one of my stories, a guy who lost his wife starts to hear his song playing, this mysterious love song. It becomes his ring tone mysteriously. By the end, he realizes, it was a recording of his wife singing. I love crafting a story, that’s what I love most about it.”
What is your motto for life struggles?
“It could always be worse.”