KRGV.com

I was born in Modesto, Calif., on Nov. 29, 1994 to Hugo and Maria Martinez. My father was in the Air Force and had been reassigned to Del Rio, Texas, around a month after I had been born.

My family stayed in Del Rio until I was around 4 years old, which was when my father was reassigned to Corpus Christi. We stayed there until I was 6 years old, which is when my parents decided to get a divorce.

My mother, older sister and I moved to Hidalgo in January, 2001. I finished kindergarten at Valley View Elementary.

My mother would work three jobs in order to provide for my sister and me. My sister would take care of me after school.

In the summer of 2002, we moved to Houston, which is where I spent second grade. In the summer of 2003 we moved back because my mother and older sister liked Hidalgo more.

Third grade was when I started extracurricular activities, particularly Number Sense UIL competition. I also was treasurer of the student council.

Fourth and fifth grade were very similar to third grade. The only real difference was the student council roles.

Sixth grade was major for me, because I was starting middle school and my older sister had moved away for college. I started taking more responsibilities at home.

I joined the school mariachi and UIL groups and stayed in them throughout middle school.

Ninth grade was important because I joined the school's robotic team and realized my love for engineering.

Now, I'm a senior in high school and a member of the school's NHS, UIL, mariachi, and robotics clubs. I also had the opportunity to become a member of MIT's MOSTEC program over the summer.