Hanzhell Hernandez-Cruz (Class of 2026) fixing a laptop for his internship with the City High Tech Department 

While some students in the City High internship program draw attention with loud successes, there are some that put in the hard work more quietly behind the scenes. Hanzhell Hernandez-Crus stands out as a true quiet force of the City High Tech Department. Boasting an incredible 159 hours logged—the highest amount of internship hours of his entire cohort—speaks volume to his hard work and dedication. 

During his internship experience, Hanzhell’s mentors Mr. Edward Crist and Mr. Matt Ziemba shared that they were proud of the significant contributions he made to the department during his internship. His dependability, ability to take initiative on his own, punctuality, and ability to learn new and sometimes complicated information quickly made him a great match. 

Not only did the internship benefit the Tech Department, but it also benefitted Hanzhell’s personal growth. He walked away with sharper problem-solving skills and more confidence in his abilities. 

"I feel more confident because they showed me that I can do so much if I just learn and practice, which is a very important skill," Hanzhell shared. "The most important thing I learned was that mistakes are not a bad thing but rather a good thing because you can learn from them."

Hanzhell continues to work part-time with the Tech Department, grateful for the opportunity to continue learning and growing his skill set. He attributes his success to the positive environment created by his mentors, placing great emphasis on the importance of their patience and clear communication. 

We were all incredibly proud of Hanzhell’s commitment and growth. He presented a prime example of how focus, dedication, and a quiet confidence led to exceptional success. Thank you to the City Charter High School Tech Department for hosting such a productive and inspiring internship experience!