Dustin Farfan Hernandez: Push through. I did, and you can too! New Technology High School Class of 2026

To understand Dustin’s deep-seated resilience, you have to understand where he came from. Like many students, Dustin’s childhood was marked by a combination of consistency and change. He shared that he moved several times before his family found their current home. He described himself simply as "chill and resilient,” a person who held things together - even when the world around him was shifting.

Through every move, school remained a constant. While he shared that he loved nothing more than staying in the house to play video games, school brought out his inner "social butterfly” and was a place where he could connect with others.

That social butterfly quickly grew into a campus leader. Dustin stepped into student leadership in the fifth and eighth grade and eventually joined student government at New Tech High. He served as class Treasurer during his sophomore year, Vice President during his junior year, and lent his vibrant personality to the New Tech News broadcast as the school's weatherman.

Yet, for all his public roles, Dustin cherished the quiet corners of campus life. His favorite spot was a small outdoor area in the back of the school near an English Language Arts classroom.

Dustin was quick to share the credit for his success, openly acknowledging the community that carried him when he needed it. “I am social. I have had many people to help me through hard times,” he reflected.

At home, those supports are his mother and, recently, his older brother, Christian. At school, support came from figures like Mrs. Andersen, his speech therapist, with whom he has fond memories of a celebratory pancake party. And then there is Israel, Dustin’s best friend since seventh grade, and best friend who remains today.

Outside of the classroom, Dustin’s true passion lies in the digital world. As an avid gamer, he uses video games to match and manage his energy: simple, calming games when he wants to relax, and intense, competitive ones when he wants a challenge. When it comes to balancing his hobbies with schoolwork, he offers a candid response: “I don’t have a balance. I go full in one way or the other.”

That "all-in" mentality is exactly what he plans to take into his future as he figures out what’s next.

As graduation approaches, Dustin isn’t romanticizing the milestone. With his trademark honesty, he admits that school ultimately taught him how to "deal with boring things," and his immediate post-graduation plan is simple: “I want to go home and play games—I am finally free.”

But this well-deserved break is just the start to his next big adventure. Within the next two years, he plans to take online classes at Napa Valley College, with the ultimate goal of moving somewhere new and making his gaming dreams a reality.

For the incoming TK and kindergarten students just beginning their own journeys, Dustin leaves behind a piece of wisdom:

“Always try—'cause some people give up. At least give it a shot for a week. If it forms a habit, keep going, and if not, you can drop it. Push through; I did, and you can too.”