ORLANDO, Fla. — No matter who you are, at some point in your life, you are faced with obstacles.

For one Central Florida man, that hurdle came in the form of a language barrier — and a lack of confidence in himself.

But when Ismael Hernandez leaned into his new position at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, the roadblocks began to melt away.

“I was able to gain trust upon myself and change my mindset,” he said.

Hernandez started at Goodwill in January 2020. The now production team leader for the Lake Nona store oversees textile productions in the warehouse.

But four years ago, he could’ve never imagined himself leading a team, especially concerned about his English language skills.

“Since Goodwill was my first job, it was little bit impossible in my thinking at that time I could be a leader in management,” he said. “English not being my first language, it was a little bit difficult at the beginning. I didn’t learn English until my elementary and middle school in Puerto Rico.”

Over time working at the store, Hernandez said that his confidence — and vocabulary — grew. He took on new roles and opportunities.

More recently, he embraced a new challenge: returning to school to gain a bachelor’s degree in business and organizational leadership — on the organization’s dime.

“For a lot of our students who are getting their degrees, their associate, bachelor's, master's, we’re paying for their school, and many of them are going through debt-free,” said Danika Hansen, speaking of the Goodwill Scholars program.

Hansen, the prosperity planner team lead, said the program is open to all part-time and full-time Goodwill employees, with the organization footing up to $5,250 per calendar year for any trade or collegiate program.

For Hernandez, connecting with Goodwill Scholars was a life-changing experience.

“He wanted to go back to school so he could get a better job in the future,” Hansen said. “He started going to Valencia to get his bachelor's degree. It’s helped him with his education and experience in the store, being able to move up, but also his confidence in knowing what he wants to do with his life.”

For the man who once suffered from a lack of confidence, the shift in even his own perspective was a welcome surprise that is now paying dividends. He hopes to graduate in December 2025.

“Knowing that I can do more than what I’m thinking I was able to accomplish … always see the big picture and always try new things,” he said. “Always believe in yourself ... and push yourself to the next level.”

Per the organization, 176 Goodwill Scholars across the six-county Central Florida region have been served with some sort of scholarship assistance.