I am interested in information security through aerospace because I understand that it is an integral part of the future of all fields. A quick search revealed that less than half of aerospace and defense companies have complete cybersecurity systems and strategies. For an industry that is responsible for transport and safety and hundreds of millions of people and billions of dollars in product, this is unacceptable. Via my proximity with the government throughout high school, I also know that information security and cybersecurity have been a huge threat to public agencies for some time; I want to be the catalyst in all these industries. I believe I could bring a unique perspective to the CyberCorps Scholarship program; I have experience lobbying, writing, and analyzing legislation through past advocacy and making legislation for model assemblies. Over the past 2 years, I have had the opportunity to lobby for the YMCA at both the National and State level through the YMCA Youth and Government. Additionally, I have experience managing a network and a database for my high school. In my sophomore year, I was chosen to be a network assistant; where I would, for the next 3 years, work to build up and maintain the hardware and software components of our school’s network. In class, I also learned various coding languages and how to integrate them into the world. In robotics, I dove into the harmony that is achieved when coding and mechanics converge. While simultaneously diving into worlds of computer science, engineering, and public policy, I have realized however dependant they are on one another. They are all interconnected through conditions, connections, rules, and laws. Lastly, I believe that the Cybercorps program would deepen my experience at Tech and provide me with the opportunity to further challenge myself and grow. I hope to continue expanding my public policy and leadership knowledge through the Global Leadership or Grand Challenges Living Learning Communities; as I have applied to both. I am planning to apply for the Georgia Legislative Internship Program in my sophomore year to greater build my knowledge in public policy and the inner workings of Georgia Politics. The Cybercorps program would also help me to diversify my knowledge by further connecting me with professionals and those with similar aspirations as me. As a Georgia outsider, I believe that these Tech programs will help me successfully integrate myself into Georgia culture and educate me on the pertinent issues Georgia faces. My dream is to nurture a relationship between Technologies and Government, utilizing my passions and experiences in both fields. Eventually, I would like to run for office, most likely pursuing a seat in the Senate, where I hope to bring a unique STEM perspective. I love to create new inventions and structures but I also have a passion for regulating and creating legislation that could help integrate these solutions safely and efficiently.

Let's begin with a quick overview, I'm going to essentially walk you through my life, so I believe it is appropriate that I introduce myself. My name is Martin Martinez, yes, that is my real name; My dad's story is that he didn't know how to spell very well, so he made it easy for me. Spanish was my first language and going into kindergarten I needed to learn English. My parents decided to enroll me in a private school so I could more easily learn the English language in a small classroom environment. Growing up, my dad had coworkers from all over the world and occasionally they came to dinner parties that my parents threw. My innate curiosity led to me spending hours picking our guests' brains about their countries and cultures. I also learned to play the piano at an early age and that sprung a love for music, but my childhood was not a perfect symphony. The challenges I faced have been complex and truly trying, but they have made me the person I am now. When my mom lost her job in 2008, I was moved to public school. Most singled me out as the new kid and bullied me for being fat and a nerd. Regardless, I still had my small-knit group of good friends. I met someone, an important piece of my story, her name was Natalie. Fifth grade came around and I began to talk to her more and more. Eventually, she became my best friend. It was such a foreign feeling to have someone who treated me like I had value and that I meant something to the world; a stark contrast to the attitudes of most of the people at my school. I loved her, it sounds childish, like an innocent love, but it was true and deep. We understood each other, constantly checking up on each other. It slowly came to light that we liked each other. We went on our first dates and we held hands for the first time. It was a beauty beyond worlds to be around her. That summer my family planned to go to Europe and that meant time away from her. We kept in touch when we could, and I got her all the best souvenirs I could find. I returned to freshly baked cookies and balloons from her. A couple of weeks passed, and she told me she wasn't feeling the best. My cousins were visiting from out of town and they wanted to see the girl crazy enough to like me. We went over to see her. That would be the last time I saw her. The next day felt eerily off. I had not felt the earthquake yet. My mom got a call and was on the phone for a while, then my dad came home. They sat. I sat. They spoke. The earth quaked below me, she was gone. The girl who had become my best friend and who had given me the motivation to be the best I could be was gone. A rare heart condition I was told. I was numb for at least two months. I was not living; I just watched the sun's light rise and dim. I continued middle school, still scarred from the day that shook me to my core. I began to realize that I needed to keep that flame in me. I need to keep improving myself, and if I can make someone feel even a sliver of appreciation, of the happiness she gave me, that I could keep her with me. Through everything I have done, I have felt the passion for improving the lives of people and realized the true value in my life comes from the relationships I build and the kindness I spread. It is my promise to myself. My promise to her.

In many ways, I learned my limitations, my breaking points, and my weaknesses. During the first months of the pandemic, I struggled to understand the situation I found myself in and found the task of adapting to the new way things would be formidable. Betrayed by my lack of self-confidence and self-assurance, I felt lost when I was expected to lead. Further, all the events I looked forward to for guidance and assurance that I am on the right path were canceled or altered to an unfamiliar online platform. I reached a breaking point where I struggled to understand who I was and why I did anything. I had to rediscover what my passions were to regain a motivation that was beyond my reach. I began to analyze who I was in what seemed like an alternate dimension. I was a leader, an innovator, but my confidence was not rooted in who I was but in what I accomplished. I realized that once those accomplishments were stripped from me, I had lost who I was. Though this destruction first struck me as tragedy, I began to redefine destruction as rebirth and a chance to construct myself anew, now with a root in self-confidence and a set of my concrete values and beliefs. Using this, I have been able to push myself to impact others in a way that is meaningful and intentional. This year I gained the role of Youth Governor for YMCA Youth in Government and the ability to lead with confidence has been paramount, especially in a time that is as uncertain as today. Though the program year has not been without its bumps, I have noticed that confidence and persistence are the remedies for failure or mishaps. The lessons of leadership and about my character that I have learned throughout this year have helped me to become a better, more affirmative leader. In the realm of career, the newfound spare time given through quarantines has given me a lot of time to experiment with 3D design in Fusion 360, Inventor, and AutoCAD. I also bought a 3D printer and have learned how to troubleshoot any issues that arise on it. At school, I have taken up the task of teaching myself Python in our robotics class. The class is a keystone project-based class and I decided to build a python chatbot with an animatronic head powered through Arduino and Python. Overall, this year has presented itself as an obstacle and a weapon of destruction and I have been able to morph it into an opportunity to strengthen myself as a leader and to improve on some coding and modeling skills.

Let's begin with a quick overview, I'm going to essentially walk you through my life, so I believe it is appropriate that I introduce myself. My name is Martin Martinez, yes, that is my real name; My dad's story is that he didn't know how to spell very well, so he made it easy for me. Spanish was my first language and going into kindergarten I needed to learn English. My parents decided to enroll me in a private school so I could more easily learn the English language in a small classroom environment. Growing up, my dad had coworkers from all over the world and occasionally they came to dinner parties that my parents threw. My innate curiosity led to me spending hours picking our guests' brains about their countries and cultures. I also learned to play the piano at an early age and that sprung a love for music, but my childhood was not a perfect symphony. The challenges I faced have been complex and truly trying, but they have made me the person I am now. When my mom lost her job in 2008, I was moved to public school. Most singled me out as the new kid and bullied me for being fat and a nerd. Regardless, I still had my small-knit group of good friends. I met someone, an important piece of my story, her name was Natalie. Fifth grade came around and I began to talk to her more and more. Eventually, she became my best friend. It was such a foreign feeling to have someone who treated me like I had value and that I meant something to the world; a stark contrast to the attitudes of most of the people at my school. I loved her, it sounds childish, like an innocent love, but it was true and deep. We understood each other, constantly checking up on each other. It slowly came to light that we liked each other. We went on our first dates and we held hands for the first time. It was a beauty beyond worlds to be around her. That summer my family planned to go to Europe and that meant time away from her. We kept in touch when we could, and I got her all the best souvenirs I could find. I returned to freshly baked cookies and balloons from her. A couple of weeks passed, and she told me she wasn't feeling the best. My cousins were visiting from out of town and they wanted to see the girl crazy enough to like me. We went over to see her. That would be the last time I saw her. The next day felt eerily off. I had not felt the earthquake yet. My mom got a call and was on the phone for a while, then my dad came home. They sat. I sat. They spoke. The earth quaked below me, she was gone. The girl who had become my best friend and who had given me the motivation to be the best I could be was gone. A rare heart condition I was told. I was numb for at least two months. I was not living; I just watched the sun's light rise and dim. I continued middle school, still scarred from the day that shook me to my core. I began to realize that I needed to keep that flame in me. I need to keep improving myself, and if I can make someone feel even a sliver of appreciation, of the happiness she gave me, that I could keep her with me. Through everything I have done, I have felt the passion for improving the lives of people and realized the true value in my life comes from the relationships I build and the kindness I spread. It is my promise to myself. My promise to her.

a truly histroical meme

Let's begin with a quick overview, I'm going to essentially walk you through my life, so I believe it is appropriate that I introduce myself. My name is Martin Martinez, yes, that is my real name; My dad's story is that he didn't know how to spell very well, so he made it easy for me. Spanish was my first language and going into kindergarten I needed to learn English. My parents decided to enroll me in a private school so I could more easily learn the English language in a small classroom environment. Growing up, my dad had coworkers from all over the world and occasionally they came to dinner parties that my parents threw. My innate curiosity led to me spending hours picking our guests' brains about their countries and cultures. I also learned to play the piano at an early age and that sprung a love for music, but my childhood was not a perfect symphony. The challenges I faced have been complex and truly trying, but they have made me the person I am now. When my mom lost her job in 2008, I was moved to public school. Most singled me out as the new kid and bullied me for being fat and a nerd. Regardless, I still had my small-knit group of good friends. I met someone, an important piece of my story, her name was Natalie. Fifth grade came around and I began to talk to her more and more. Eventually, she became my best friend. It was such a foreign feeling to have someone who treated me like I had value and that I meant something to the world; a stark contrast to the attitudes of most of the people at my school. I loved her, it sounds childish, like an innocent love, but it was true and deep. We understood each other, constantly checking up on each other. It slowly came to light that we liked each other. We went on our first dates and we held hands for the first time. It was a beauty beyond worlds to be around her. That summer my family planned to go to Europe and that meant time away from her. We kept in touch when we could, and I got her all the best souvenirs I could find. I returned to freshly baked cookies and balloons from her. A couple of weeks passed, and she told me she wasn't feeling the best. My cousins were visiting from out of town and they wanted to see the girl crazy enough to like me. We went over to see her. That would be the last time I saw her. The next day felt eerily off. I had not felt the earthquake yet. My mom got a call and was on the phone for a while, then my dad came home. They sat. I sat. They spoke. The earth quaked below me, she was gone. The girl who had become my best friend and who had given me the motivation to be the best I could be was gone. A rare heart condition I was told. I was numb for at least two months. I was not living; I just watched the sun's light rise and dim. I continued middle school, still scarred from the day that shook me to my core. I began to realize that I needed to keep that flame in me. I need to keep improving myself, and if I can make someone feel even a sliver of appreciation, of the happiness she gave me, that I could keep her with me. Through everything I have done, I have felt the passion for improving the lives of people and realized the true value in my life comes from the relationships I build and the kindness I spread. It is my promise to myself. My promise to her.

In 9th grade, I joined 25 other students from around the State in a weeklong service-learning project. The program, called Y-Corps, takes students all over the state to serve in a plethora of volunteer activities. I remember packing meals, cleaning and fixing up local parks, and painting houses. In 10th grade, I helped to put on a community event that was an open interview with a veteran of the civil rights movement. His name is Brady Johnson and he marched across the Pettus Bridge during the Selma to Montgomery March. I acted as the host for the event and was fascinated to hear his perspectives on current events and racial issues and how they have evolved since he was young. He detailed the time he went to a church to hear Martin Luther King Jr. talk, describing the cadence, volume, and strength of his voice. In the summer, I did a park cleanup of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and helped fix computers for my school. In 11th grade, I worked as a State Officer for the YMCA Youth in Government Program where I served in the 63rd program year. When Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas, I utilized my statewide network to start a quick supplies drive for hurricane relief. I told delegates to bring supplies to the next in-person event, which was our Officer Training Retreat. We received more than 150 items. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I helped to put on the virtual State Assembly. This year, I am serving as the Youth Governor of Florida through the Youth in Government Program, and have put on various online events that have promoted civic and voter engagement. This election cycle, I worked with When We All Vote promoting registering to vote and am volunteering to work the poles.

I had been playing guitar for a couple of years when I decided to challenge myself and join a cover band. We performed about 10 open mics in the course of a year and a half and these pictures are of our performance. The guitar is one that I bought with money I won in a Tech Competition. It is my dream guitar, an American Professional Fender Stratocaster.

Spanish was my first language and going into kindergarten I needed to learn English. My parents decided to enroll me into a private school so I could more easily learn the English language in a small classroom environment. Growing up, my dad had coworkers from all over the world and occasionally they came to dinner parties that my parents threw. My innate curiosity led to me spending hours picking our guests’ brains about their countries and cultures. I also learned to play the piano at an early age and that sprung a love for music, but my childhood was not a perfect symphony. The challenges I faced have been complex and truly trying, but they have made me the person I am now. When my mom lost her job in 2008, I was moved to public school. Most singled me out as the new kid and bullied me for being fat and a nerd. Regardless, I still had my small knit group of good friends. I met someone, an important piece to my story, her name was Natalie. Fifth grade came around and I began to talk to her more and more. Eventually, she became my best friend. It was such a foreign feeling to have someone who treated me like I had value and that I meant something to the world; a stark contrast to the attitudes of most of the people at my school. I loved her, it sounds childish, like an innocent love, but it was true and deep. We understood each other, constantly checking up on each other. It slowly came to light that we liked each other. We went on our first dates and we held hands for the first time. It was a beauty beyond worlds to be around her. That summer my family planned to go to Europe and that meant time away from her. We kept in touch when we could, and I got her all the best souvenirs I could find. I returned to freshly baked cookies and balloons from her. A couple weeks passed, and she told me she told me she wasn’t feeling the best. My cousins were visiting from out of town and they wanted to see the girl crazy enough to like me. We went over to see her. That would be the last time I saw her. The next day felt eerily off. I had not felt the earthquake yet. My mom got a call and was on phone for a while, then I saw that my dad came home. They sat. I sat. They spoke. The earth quaked below me, she was gone. The girl who had become my best friend and who had given me the motivation to be the best I could be was gone. A rare heart condition I was told. I was numb for at least two months. I was not living; I just watched the suns light rise and dim. I continued middle school, still scarred from the day that shook me to my core. I began to realize that I needed to keep that flame in me. I need to keep improving myself, and if I can make someone feel even a sliver of the appreciation, of the happiness she gave me, that I could keep her with me. Through everything I have done, I have felt the passion for improving the lives of people and realized true value in my life comes from the relationships I build and the kindness I spread. It is my promise to myself. My promise to her.