"I don't like science as much, but I've got to do what I have to do," Hernandez said.
But, that is the point.
Across the country, there is a growing issue of students struggling with math and science. That is why The Bridge Project created this program to try to get more students from these low-income areas interested in math and science.
"We knew we needed to invest in our high school kids and give them job training and give them some life skill experience that other people weren't doing," said Molly Calhoun, executive director of The Bridge Project.
The Bridge Project put together this Technology Academy in conjunction with the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.
Hernandez and a room full of other students who live in public housing projects are learning all sorts of things including how to design and build their own kites from scratch.
"That's how you get interested in the sciences is you build stuff and you play with stuff and these kids like to build and play," said Dr. Robert Knecht, senior mentor and professor at the Colorado School of Mines. "If I can get them building and playing, then I don't have to worry about it. They'll do the rest."
It is also keeping kids away from the temptations and problems that are often associated with low-income neighborhoods.
"It's better like cause the friends that I live around, they don't do nothing besides drink and smoke," Hernandez said. "I don't want to be around all the bad influence."
Calhoun wants kids to believe that no matter where they live, they can become successful engineers or scientists.
"There is power and there is potential and there is just amazing sort of skill," Calhoun said.
Knecht says over the years, three students who went through The Bridge Project ended up going through the School of Mines studying to be engineers.
"It doesn't make a difference where you come from," Knecht said. "You have that capability. If you're given an opportunity like this to exercise it, I think they'd take it."
The Bridge Project also works with the University of Denver and a charity group called The Binning Family Foundation.
Hernandez wants to learn these skills so she can maybe come back and be a mentor for younger kids going through the same Bridge Project programs.
"I just want to be a role model and be there for them," Hernandez said.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)