Football pads and a stethoscope don't usually go hand in hand, but for Noah Gerling, a member of the Thomas R. Proctor High School Class of 2022, they tell the story of a life shaped by passion, perseverance and purpose.
Gerling now spends his days caring for animals as a veterinary assistant at Marcy Veterinary Clinic – a calling that he says mirrors the warmth his mother, beloved Columbus Elementary principal Elizabeth Gerling, showed to generations of Utica students.
"I always say her empathy and compassion was for kids," Gerling said. "Mine is for animals. We’re covering both ends of the spectrum."
Long before Gerling was treating patients, he was a student-athlete at the Utica City School District. As a graduate of Columbus Elementary, Donovan Middle School and Proctor High School, Gerling credits his hometown with preparing him for life beyond graduation.
“Utica is known for its diversity and all the different people you meet,” Gerling said. “It prepared me not only for college, but for the real world. You learn how to thrive in an environment where everyone brings a unique perspective to the table. I'm proud to say I'm a product of that big machine."
While Gerling was pursuing his bachelor's degree in animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine at Cornell University in Ithaca, he faced his hardest challenge when his mother was tragically murdered. As Gerling maintained the heavy demands of his schoolwork, he was also traveling back home to Utica to be present throughout the legal process that followed her death.
This experience forced Gerling to learn perseverance early as he had to balance grief and young adult responsibilities with pursuing his degree. During that time, Gerling leaned heavily on his fraternity brothers at Cornell, who helped him carry responsibilities far beyond his years. Despite the immense weight of these challenges, Gerling stayed focused and graduated on time, keeping his mother's lessons at the front of his mind.
“There were times when I was studying for finals and then would have to come back home to Utica,” Gerling recalled. “It was a lot to handle, especially at that point in my life, but I knew I had to keep going. That’s what she would have wanted.”
As principal of Columbus Elementary School, Gerling’s mother was known for going above and beyond. She would check in on students after school hours, visit families and make sure every child felt seen and supported. When Gerling graduated from Cornell, his mother wasn’t there to watch him walk across the stage, but he still found a way to have her present on that special day. Gerling proudly carried a framed portrait of his mother across the stage, which he held tightly as he accepted his diploma.
“I had been waiting for that day for so long,” Gerling recalled. “When I walked across the stage, I just broke down. It was one of the greatest achievements of my life, and the person who started it all wasn’t there to witness it.”
Today, Gerling strives to honor his mother’s legacy through his work. "If there's one thing I hope to achieve, it's to have her level of compassion and empathy," he said. "I know I have a lot of room to grow, but I'd like to think that I'm on the right path."
That path was also shaped by the coaches, teammates and teachers who guided Gerling throughout his years at the District. Gerling says that his time playing football, lacrosse and track and field taught him lessons that still apply today.
"Football taught me camaraderie and being part of something larger than yourself," Gerling said. "The lessons I learned then, I apply every day."
Gerling sees those lessons in action at Marcy Veterinary Clinic.
"It's not just the doctor," Gerling explained. "You need technicians, assistants and front-office staff. It takes a team to make everything work."
Gerling credits the collaborative environment at the clinic with reinforcing the values he first learned as a Raider: work ethic, trust and communication. The same goes for the teachers who challenged him in the classroom. Among those who left a lasting impression were AP European history teacher Mrs. Mullen; English teacher Mrs. Pallas, who helped him write his Cornell admissions essay; and English and Italian teachers Dennis and Ricky Hahn.
"They reminded me a lot of my mom," Gerling said of the Hahn family. "They had a similar teaching style and were close with her. Being in their classrooms almost felt like my mom was teaching me."
One of Gerling’s earliest motivations to pursue veterinary medicine came through his first pet, Coogan. Years later, Coogan was treated at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Through the care and expertise provided by the veterinary team at Cornell, Gerling received a firsthand look at the impact that veterinarians can have on animals and their families.
“I think that was one of those moments where everything kind of came back around,” Gerling said. “Coogan was one of the reasons I wanted to do this, and then seeing him get care at Cornell was pretty special.”
Looking back on his journey, Gerling hopes that current Raiders understand the importance of setting goals and taking advantage of the opportunities in front of them.
“Take school seriously,” Gerling said. “I know it’s easy to blow it off when you’re in high school and you’re young. I was there too. But it’s important to have goals and work toward something. Whether it’s college, a trade, the military or whatever path you choose, having a plan keeps you grounded. You have to believe in yourself before anyone else can believe in you.”
Now, Gerling is preparing for the next step of his veterinary medicine journey – studying at St. George's School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, with hopes to pursue a future in veterinary surgery and the ability to work with both small and large animals, including horses.
“One thing people probably don’t realize about veterinary medicine is just how much you have to learn,” Gerling said. “With human medicine, you’re learning about one species. For us, you’re learning about cats, dogs, horses, cows and goats. They all have different anatomy and physiological needs. It’s a lot of information, but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.”
No matter where his career takes him next, Gerling says that the District will remain a defining part of who he is.
“It made me who I am,” Gerling said. “Those were my transformative years. It prepared me well for the challenges I’d face in life. I’m proud to say that I went to Utica.”
