In an interview with SportStars, the California standout reflected on overcoming adversity, leading by example, and what it means to be recognized among the nation’s top positive student-athletes.
Jessica Hernandez has always believed that success is about more than what happens on the field.
A diehard softball fan and player, Hernandez was sidelined by a medical setback early in her freshman varsity season before returning to help lead San Fernando to the CIF LA City Section Division I Championship game that year. Despite setbacks throughout her athletic career, Hernandez persevered and continued to uplift herself and her team.
“This game is built on failure, so it’s important that nobody, no matter how many times you fail—which, believe me, can be plenty—keeps their head down,” she said. “You have to keep your head up and be ready for the next opportunity. That’s a lesson that extends far beyond the field for me.”
After graduating this month, Hernandez said her time in the sport taught her that winning is rewarding, but the friendships and lessons gained along the way are even more valuable.
“I love the relationships that I built with new teammates along the way,” Hernandez said. “They gave me some of the best memories, and that is something I’ll always be grateful for.”
When speaking about her love for the game, Hernandez always returns to her team. While that is a testament to her character and leadership as a captain, the San Fernando High School student-athlete is now being recognized on a national stage for the impact she has made both on and off the field.
Hernandez was recently named one of 14 recipients of the inaugural VKTRY Good Sole Award, a new scholarship created by VKTRY, a leader in carbon fiber performance insoles, and Positive Athlete, a national organization that promotes positivity among young athletes through awards, scholarships, and career-readiness programming.
Student-athletes from across the country were selected for embodying resilience, leadership, character, and positive influence both in and out of sports.
Selected from more than 15,500 nominations submitted by over 6,000 schools across all 50 states, Hernandez will receive a $2,500 scholarship to support her future educational goals.
The 2026 VKTRY Good Sole Award recipients are:
Rahim Abdulsamad — Venice High School, California
Jessica Hernandez — San Fernando High School, California
Trevor Prock — Montrose High School, Colorado
Megan Waters — Lakewood High School, Colorado
Isaiah Respert — Howard High School, Georgia
Elizabeth Nilson — North Atlanta High School, Georgia
Tristan Slater — Negaunee High School, Michigan
Mia Hilton — Thornapple Kellogg High School, Michigan
Andy Paulino — New Utrecht High School, New York
Maggie Glanz — Southampton High School, New York
Michael Borjon — Mineral Wells High School, Texas
Avery Ross — Fellowship Academy, Texas
Thomas Hungarland — Galileo Magnet High School, Virginia
Ava Rassool — Frank W. Cox High School, Virginia
“One of the most exciting things about this partnership is the shared belief that success is about far more than athletic performance alone,” said Ryan Pederson, President of Positive Athlete. “These student-athletes represent what it truly means to be a Positive Athlete. They’ve overcome challenges, impacted the people around them, and consistently chosen to lead with character.”
One of Hernandez’s biggest challenges came when she was 15 years old and sidelined for most of her first season after undergoing emergency surgery to remove three ovarian cysts.
Describing it as “one of the hardest experiences” she has faced, Hernandez said she had to take her recovery one day at a time and trust the process while focusing on getting healthy.
“Mentally, it was an even bigger challenge because I’d been away from something that had been such a large part of my life,” she said. “It really forced me to discover who I was, not only within the sport but outside of it as well.”
The health challenge helped her understand that she could only control what was directly in front of her and that she could still be an asset to her team.
“Even though I couldn’t contribute on the field in the ways I wanted to at the time, I realized there were still many ways that I could support my team,” she said.
She did so by offering words of encouragement, managing statistics, and studying opponents.
Hernandez returned to the game stronger than ever after learning that her setback did not define her as a person or an athlete. That lesson helped her compete in the CIF LA City Section Division I Championship game and handle the disappointment of her team’s loss that day.
“When I returned, being able to experience such a high-pressure moment like that meant the world to me, and it’s definitely an experience I won’t forget,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez continued to play for the San Fernando softball team throughout her high school career, creating many memorable moments along the way.
“The entire four seasons, each of us definitely gave it our all,” she said. “Each year, we made it past the first round. Each year, we made it to the semifinals. Even though we didn’t get to experience going to the championship again, I think each team definitely brought something to the table. It only made us stronger and continued to push us every year.”
Now a graduate, Hernandez is attending Los Angeles Valley College, where she is majoring in business administration while continuing her softball career. She hopes to eventually attend her dream school, the University of Oregon.
Hernandez said she feels “honored” to conclude her high school academic and athletic career with the Good Sole Award.
“I know that, along with those athletes, we all work hard every single day,” she said, adding that she does not take either the nomination or the award for granted and remains deeply grateful for the recognition.
For Hernandez, being a positive athlete means much more than performance on the field.
“It means a lot more in terms of the work that you’ve put in, the perseverance, and the character that happens behind the scenes when nobody’s watching,” she said. “I think this recognition means a lot more than any regular athletic achievement. As a student-athlete, I’ve always tried to give my best effort in the classroom, in leadership positions, and in my community. Being recognized reminds me that hard work, resilience, and character truly do matter—not only on the field, but off the field as well.”
With the scholarship funds, Hernandez plans to save for her continued education and other long-term goals, such as buying a car or a house one day.
Her advice for other student-athletes is to remain true to themselves, appreciate the opportunities they have, and give themselves grace and credit when it is deserved. As a Good Sole Award recipient, Hernandez plans to continue supporting her teammates and fellow athletes throughout her time at Los Angeles Valley College.