Pineda finds family through JROTC

Pineda+leads+the+pack+during+a+JROTC+exercise

Photo courtesy of Michelle Pineda

Pineda leads the pack during a JROTC exercise

Battalion Commander senior Michelle Pineda Hernandez is all about leadership and guiding her cadets into a successful journey. Although she’s experienced obstacles in her childhood, it has never stopped her from caring about leading others. It only motivated her more to become successful.

“One of the biggest things that I’m involved in here in the high school is JROTC. It has impacted my life in all realms. It has impacted me mentally, physically, spiritually and academically,” Pineda said.

While Pineda’s new family in JROTC has been there for her in her high school years, her real family wasn’t always as supportive in the past.

“My parents divorced, and it was mostly because of domestic violence. I was raised around that environment. It really hit me when my parents got separated because it was life threatening, not only to me, but to my mom,” Pineda said. “I just remember her sitting me down and I was like 10 years old and telling me, ‘Look you need to have good grades. I need you to be a good student. I need you to be a good kid because if you’re not, they can send us back to Mexico because I’m not raising a good United States citizen.’ I knew then that I had to grow up.”

Her past, however has not stopped her from following her dreams. Born in Tifton, Georgia and raised here in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Pineda is experiencing many firsts for her family.

“My family immigrated from Mexico and I’m the first to be born here. The first to graduate from high school. The first to be fluent in English and I’ll also be the first to go to college,” Pineda said.

Her future plans to go to college are definite, but where she’s going is undecided due to the fact that she doesn’t want to leave her mom alone.

“My mom is the one that’s always been there for me. My mom is the one that always goes to my award ceremonies, and she’s the one that sees me struggle with school and working. She’s the one that’s always been my support since they got divorced in 2010. She’s the only person that I can think of,” Pineda said. “All these years I see her wake up at 5 in the morning working 12 hour shifts like 6 or 7 days a week, and everyday I wake up to that reality that not only do I have to do this for my future, but I have to do it for hers.”

Sacrifices are what Pineda has learned from her mom and it’s what she believes that her role as Battalion Commander requires. She wants senior year to be about giving instead of taking.

“If my kids mess up, then I’m taking the hit for it. I’m not going to blame them, or get mad if they mess up because it’s my job to lead and guide them. You do give up some of your own needs, so they can get the best opportunities. You don’t do the best for you, but the best for the battalion.” Pineda said.

Pineda has learned to value the true meaning of family through her struggles as a child, but it taught her to keep her battalion and family in mind throughout her life.

“The things I went through with my mom, that’s who I am and no, I wouldn’t change anything,” Pineda said.