Cool Kid Monica Hernandez mentors younger students

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Our ABC7 Cool Kid for Thursday, Jan. 29 is Monica Hernandez, who is able to relate to younger students in a way adults can't.

"It's inspiring for them to be able to see a young person in their positions, (and) say, 'I can see myself that far down the line,'" Principal Jennifer Kellam said.

The 15-year-old sophomore from Saint Joseph High School in Lakewood volunteers as a teacher at St. Barnabas Church. She hopes to impart one lesson to her students: give back and help others.

"I just like to help people a lot. Since, I don't really have any younger siblings, I kind of use that (teaching) as a way to substitute it," Hernandez said.

Hernandez also spends time volunteering for the Friends of Lakewood Library and Long Beach Memorial Hospital.

She plans to become a family psychologist in the future.

"I would like to help a lot of families, because so many situations and so many scenarios are always happening. It always leads to bad futures and I just want everyone to have a good future," Hernandez said.

Hernandez is deeply involved in her community and plans to stay that way for years to come.