Anayeli Hernandez is a proud Mexican-American and first-generation college student a small town called Orange, Texas. Growing up, she faced several challenges—poverty, discrimination, the loss of a parent, living with bilateral hearing loss, and supporting a younger brother with a genetic condition. These experiences shaped her perspective and taught her resilience. From a young age, Anayeli believed that if she could overcome those hardships, she could take on anything.

With that determination, she knew she wanted a career that would make a difference. She’s always been drawn to the arts—dance, music, and visual expression—but it wasn’t until earning her associate degree in Liberal Arts that she discovered her passion for designing spaces. For her, interior design is more than making things beautiful, but about creating environments where people feel seen, comfortable, and able to thrive.

Her thesis focuses on making interior spaces more inclusive and accessible, a topic inspired by her own experiences with disability and her brother Elias, who lives with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. She’s passionate about challenging traditional design practices to better serve everyone, regardless of ability.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture, Anayeli plans to gain hands-on experience in the field to continue growing as a designer. She also hopes to pursue additional associate degrees in Natural Science and Art Education to expand her creative and academic skill set. Her ultimate goal is to use design as a tool to advocate for more thoughtful, inclusive spaces that uplift the people who live, work, and move through them every day.

My Senior Thesis