Forman Scholar Julie Hemple Determined to Succeed and Be the Person She Always Wanted to Be

Since childhood, Julie Hemple has dreamed of going off to college and being the first in her family to have the opportunity to do so. The prospect of embarking upon the college experience as a first-generation student and successfully earning a degree has always filled her with excitement and pride. The Forman Scholar is taking one step closer to transforming her dream into a reality as she begins studying secondary English education at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) this fall.

Julie understands the value of hard work. Constantly dividing her time between schoolwork, extracurricular activities and a full-time job, she is no stranger to a busy schedule.

“The key to balance is understanding that sometimes, there are moments that you can’t handle,” Julie said. “But you have to remember what your main goal is that you’re working toward and use that as motivation to push yourself even harder.”

While Julie is set to primarily study education at TCNJ, she is also exploring the possibility of adding a minor in either political science or pre-law to her course load. She is interested in the intersection of education, politics and law. Her long-term goal is to both educate and use her education to be a voice for teachers and students.

“Every child deserves to have access to a quality education, and every educator deserves to share their talents in an environment that supports their and their students’ success,” Julie said. “I would love the opportunity to advocate for an education system that does just that.”

Julie explains how the English teachers she had the pleasure of learning from at Salem High had a particularly profound impact on her. They are the inspiration behind her decision to pursue a degree in secondary English education. Her passion for books and writing factored heavily into her thought process as well.

“My English courses in high school went far beyond simply teaching me how to read and write,” Julie said. “They taught me to have a deep appreciation for literature and to analyze books in a way that uncovered their deeper meanings and messages.”

Throughout her four years at Salem High, Julie kept busy, serving as secretary of her class, participating in the school’s Ambassadors Program, and competing on the school’s cheerleading, softball and swim teams. While Julie will cherish the memories she’s made, she’s eager to make a fresh start. Growing up in Salem hasn’t always been the easiest, and the personal challenges she’s had to confront throughout her life have taught her the value of adversity.

“I’m ready just to be ‘Julie,’ not ‘Julie, the underdog who had to work like crazy to make it.’ Just ‘Julie,’” she said.

Julie credits much of her success to the countless mentors she gained throughout her time at Salem High whose guidance and encouragement propelled her forward even in the darkest of days.

“I always struggled with asking for help, and these folks took it upon themselves to guide me throughout high school and toward this new chapter in my life,” Julie said. “It is the greatest feeling having people in your corner.”

The Forman Acton Foundation has been on Julie’s radar for many years, and now having been named a Forman Scholar, Julie looks forward to the ongoing support provided by the Foundation’s staff.

“There is something about every Scholar that makes them unique and different from the rest,” Julie said. “Each Scholar comes with personal baggage of some sort, and as horrible as that sounds, the Foundation plays the role of ‘big brother’ or ‘big sister’ and offers a comforting support system. I can’t tell you how necessary that will be as we each step into the world of college. We all have challenges in store, but with the Foundation by our side, everything will work out just fine.”