By Mike Morsch, Regional Editor
Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez has been nicknamed “The Human Emoji” because of her wide-eyed and animated expressions.
A New Jersey native, the soon-to-be 17-year-old’s life dramatically changed when she was selected to be a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympics gymnastics team. It changed even further as a member of the “Final Five” when the U.S. took the team gold medal and Hernandez herself grabbed the silver medal in the balance beam competition.
She continued to dance her way into America’s heart after the Olympics by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Mirrorball Trophy on the 23rd season of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2016.
So when Celeste Scott saw Hernandez’s book “I Got This” on the shelf at Target, she she was intrigued and decided to thumb through the pages.
Scott is the PTO program director for school assemblies at the Cranbury School. Each spring, the PTO sponsors an author assembly for all students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
“In planning the assembly, I researched several authors but my goal was to bring in an inspirational author to the school, someone that the kids could really relate to and be inspired by,” said Scott. “After paging through Laurie’s book, I realized that she would be a wonderful role model for the kids.”
The invitation was extended to Hernandez and she accepted, bringing her “human emoji” expressions to the Cranbury School for two assemblies on May 24, where she spoke to students about her Olympic experience.
“Her message to the kids was genuine and heartfelt – reach for your dreams, work hard, stay patient and be very grateful for every experience along the way,” said Scott. “The kids loved her. She is a remarkable person and we are so grateful that she came to our school.”
Hernandez spoke of how her family had supported her throughout the ups and downs of her 11-year-journey to the Olympics and how she remained focused on her goals, even though at times they seem to be within her reach.
“The event surpassed my expectations and dreams because Laurie Hernandez was such a beautiful young lady inside and out,” said Sasha Weinstein, PTO president. “Our school parents generously support the PTO in order to have these special assemblies throughout the year. This one was by far the best.”
