A Q&A with Tayana Fernandez ’12

After graduating from GPS, Tayana Fernandez, Class of 2012, attended Auburn University, where she double-majored in biomedical science and Spanish. She went on to attend graduate school, where she received her master’s in biomedical science. Today, she is following a lifelong dream in dental school, with the goal of receiving her doctorate in 2024.

Q. How did you get into what you’re doing now? Did you always know you wanted to do something like that? 

A. I’ve known that I wanted to become a dentist since I was about four years old. My interest in dentistry sparked before I even had my first visit to the dentist. To really get into what I’m doing now, I did a lot of shadowing and volunteering in the dental field, built my résumé, and took the necessary steps to make myself a competitive applicant for dental school.

Q. What was your favorite tradition at GPS? Why? 

A. My favorite tradition at GPS was Class Day. I always appreciated the joy that came from singing all the songs. I also loved seeing others get recognition that they deserved. 

Q. What’s the best piece of advice you got during your time at GPS? Do you remember who it came from? 

A. During my time at GPS, my best guidance came from Ms. Bolden during her public speaking class. Looking back, I really owe her a lot for the way she ran that class. It set the foundation for my using my voice and being confident when I do.

Q. If you could offer one piece of advice to current GPS students, what would it be? 

A. My piece of advice would be to enjoy every moment, big or small. There are several beautiful memories of moments that I enjoyed to the fullest while at GPS, so much so that I would honestly go back and do it all over again.

Q. Do you stay in touch with your classmates? What impact have they had on your life?

A. Yes, I stay in touch with classmates. Classmates I keep in touch with are women I grew closer to after GPS, when our paths crossed again. Overall, everyone I encountered during my time at GPS and beyond impacted my life in a positive way. These women have qualities about them that are so inspiring, such as their level of ambition, intelligence, and work ethic. I will always be grateful for being surrounded by like-minded women.

Q. Can you point to anything that GPS did to prepare you for your future? 

A. I remember seeing the writing skills really pay off during my English courses in college. This was an amazing transformation for me because when I first started at GPS as a freshman, my writing was not the best. To all my English teachers at GPS—Mrs. Rankin, Mr. Kessler, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Wells—thank you! 

Additionally, GPS instilled a special confidence in me to know that I am capable of anything. I think it’s because I had to rise to the challenge quickly and overcome it as a new student during my freshman year.

Q. Are there any experiences or memories from your time at GPS that really stand out?

A. The first thing that comes to mind are the five state championships (1 volleyball, 2 basketball, 2 softball) that I got to experience. During my time at GPS, the athletic program was very esteemed. I was never a standout athlete, but I got to play alongside several of them, which ultimately made me better. All the practices, games, wins, bus rides, hotel stays, dinners, and championship rings were so fun and memorable. It feels awesome to say that I got to experience what one would call a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” more than once.