Football pads and a stethoscope don't usually go hand in hand, but for Proctor graduate Noah Gerling, they tell the story of a life shaped by passion, perseverance and purpose.
Noah now spends his days caring for animals as a veterinary assistant at Marcy Veterinary Clinic, a calling 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," Noah said. "Mine is for animals. We’re covering both ends of the spectrum."
Long before he was treating patients, Noah was a student-athlete in the Utica City School District. A graduate of Columbus Elementary, Donovan Middle School and Proctor High School ’22, Noah credits his hometown with preparing him for life beyond graduation.
“Utica is known for its diversity and all the different people you meet,” Noah 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 pursuing his bachelor's degree in animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine at Cornell University, Noah faced his hardest challenge when his mother was tragically murdered. As he maintained the heavy demands of his schoolwork, he was also traveling back home to Utica to be present through the legal process that followed her death.
Noah learned perseverance early by balancing grief and young adult responsibilities while chasing his dream. During that time, he leaned heavily on his fraternity brothers at Cornell, who helped him carry responsibilities far beyond his years.
Despite the immense weight, Noah stayed focused and graduated on time, keeping his mother's lessons at the front of his mind.
“There were times where I was studying for finals and then I would have to come back home to Utica,” Noah 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, Elizabeth was famous for going above and beyond, like checking on students after hours, visiting families and making sure every child felt seen and supported. When Noah graduated from Cornell, she wasn’t there to watch him walk across the stage, but he found a way to bring her with him. Tucked under his graduation gown was a portrait of his mother, which he held tightly as he accepted his diploma.
“I had been waiting for that day for so long,” Noah 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, Noah strives to honor her legacy through his own work. "If there's one thing I could 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 I'm on the right path."
That path was also shaped by the coaches, teammates and teachers who guided him throughout his years in the Utica City School District. Noah says 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," he said. "Those same things I learned then, I apply every day."
Noah sees those lessons in action right now at Marcy Veterinary Clinic, where he also completed an internship.
"It's not just the doctor," Noah explained. "You need technicians, assistants and front-office staff. It takes a team to make everything work."
He credits the collaborative environment at Marcy with reinforcing the same 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," Noah said of the Hahn family. "They had a similar teaching style and they were close with her. Being in their classroom almost felt like my mom was teaching me."
One of Noah’s earliest connections to medicine came through Coogan, his first pet. Years later, that connection came full circle when Coogan was treated at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Seeing the care and expertise provided by the Cornell veterinary team gave Noah a firsthand look at the impact a vet can have on both a pet and a family.
“I think that was one of those moments where everything kind of came back around,” Noah 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, Noah hopes current Raiders understand the importance of setting goals and taking advantage of the opportunities in front of them.
“Take school seriously,” Noah 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, Noah is preparing for the next step of his veterinary medicine journey at St. George's University in Grenada, where he hopes to pursue a future in surgery and eventually 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,” Noah said. “With human medicine, you’re learning about one species. For us, you’re learning 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, Noah says Proctor remains a defining part of who he is.
“It made me who I am,” Noah said. “Those were my transformative years. It prepared me well for the challenges I’d face in life. I’m proud to say I went to Proctor.”
