The Lasting Impact of Time to Rise at Harding Academy: Hector Tinoco

Theodore Roosevelt has been quoted for saying “ Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Our mission at Harding Academy is epitomized in our Community Code; Be Kind, Be Honest, Be Respectful, Be Open, Be Dependable, Be a Learner and Be My Best.  This code and vocabulary are used in every classroom every day at Harding. It flows from faculty and students as easily as a piece of normal conversation. One of the many wonderful things about Harding is this code does not only apply to the school year.  It carries over as students move on to high school but also through our various summer programs. One of our summer programs, Time to Rise, has become a familiar face on our campus during the month of June. 

Time to Rise is a non-profit organization that has been a part of the Harding summer for the past ten years.  Our campus hosts a diverse population of Hispanic, Latino,and Muslim students from public schools over the Nashville area.  Students are provided with breakfast and lunch as well as two snacks each day. Academic classes are offered in the morning to bridge any educational gaps and then field trips and elective opportunities are offered each afternoon.  Our student population has grown from a small group of twenty-three rising third graders to sixty-three rising third, fourth and fifth graders. Counselors and volunteers are Harding alums that are familiar with the Community Code and the expectations that come along with it. 

We have been extremely blessed to be a part of many children’s lives.  To watch them mature, grow and understand what a huge impact the Harding family has been on them can only be summed up as incredible. One student that has not only been impacted by Harding but that has certainly impacted us is Hector Tinoco. We first met Hector when he was a small but bright rising third grader at Shwab Elementary.  Hector was smart, inquisitive, well behaved and could light up a room with his smile. Hector was present every day for camp and was always excited when he stepped off the bus. Everyone could see the amazing potential in this kid. He was going to go somewhere and do great things when he grew up. Right then and there we were determined to share this journey with him and encourage him in anyway that we could as he grew.  He had definitely made a mark on all of our hearts. 

Each year we could count on Hector to be in our program.  He would also share with his community about the program and certainly helped with enrollment.  Hector continued to work hard in school, and also took our constant checking up on him in stride.  He would laugh when we would give him the “pep talks” about studying hard, applying himself and doing his best no matter what the task. Eventually Hector became too old to attend the program as a camper.  With having younger siblings, we knew we still wanted Hector to continue to be a part of the program. We initiated Hector as a junior counselor. He would continue to be with us at camp each day, served as an interpreter if needed, still a recruiter, and  also graduated to be a bus monitor. We are thrilled that Hector continues to work with our program as a full time counselor these days. His younger siblings, Esteban, Hector Jr. and Axel are also enrolled in our program.  

We are proud to say that Hector is now a senior at Kipp Academy.  He has scored an impressive 26 on the ACT and maintains a solid 4.0 GPA.  Hector has applied to 12 colleges including University of Louisville, Rhodes, Vanderbilt and Centre and has been accepted to Travecca and Fisk.  His is hoping to study biomedical engineering. Hector is a wonderful, aspiring, kind, smart young man. We are all blessed to have been able to watch him grow and mature into an amazing person. The Harding community and family have been such a positive influence on his life.  We know that many students just like Hector will continue to pass through our doors, even if only for a month. But the impact left on their lives will last a lifetime.