Martin

"The summer before my sophomore year, everything changed—my home burned down. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. After the fire, my family moved to temporary housing 45 minutes away from my school. Transferring would mean losing friendships, soccer, and my connection to my community. So, I committed to the long days.

Every morning, I left at 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus, and I didn’t return until 10:45 p.m. Between school, soccer, and staying involved in my hometown, there was little time for rest. Some nights, I stayed up until 1 or 2 a.m. to finish my homework. Despite the exhaustion, I managed to finish the year with a 4.0 GPA. As my uncle often says, it was a blessing in disguise. The experience taught me to persevere and push forward, even when life feels overwhelming.

Outside of school, I’ve also dedicated myself to giving back. I volunteer with a nonprofit called Feed the Valley, where I deliver warm meals, groceries, and medications to senior citizens and low-income families. My mom drives me around as I make the deliveries, and over time, I’ve built real relationships with the people I help. It’s been eye-opening to realize that everyone has their own struggles. Sometimes, a hot meal and a conversation can brighten someone’s day.  Seeing their smiles is something I’ll never forget.

Every challenge I’ve faced has made me more determined to succeed, and I’m driven by the desire to honor my parents, especially my dad, who has spent much of his life working in the fields to support our family. As a first-generation student, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. 

I plan to attend Cal Poly SLO to earn my degree in business. I hope to pursue a career in accounting while continuing to play soccer. Achieving my goals will not only help me build a better future for myself, it will also allow me to give back to my family, who have given everything for me."