From the sidelines to room 731, Sonya Martinez, a junior at Orange Glen high school is a cheerleader who likes to raise her voice on the football field. Not only does she cheerlead for her school’s team, but she is also an All-star competition cheerleader with the team “Poway Elite All stars”.

“Cheerleading just makes since for me, it’s all I’ve ever known since I was kid,” Martinez said

Outside of school, she is a worship leader at her church, as well as a kids and teens ministry Pastor in Training. She hopes one day she can reach her goal and get accepted to Wyoming School of Technology and major in welding to eventually become an iron worker like her father, along with being a pastor.

“My dad always told me to follow my dreams, but he never knew we both had the same dream of me becoming a ironworker.” Martinez said.

To say that Martinez is qualified to be in this class would be an understatement, she was recognized at a national level, at the JEA national convention in Seattle, Washington for her featured writing in the ”yearbook life” category. She also has her DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) certification and plans to use that to help her work in more diverse ways.

“I’ve never knew I could be a good writer,” Martinez said, “I genuinely thought I was the worst writer, until I finally had someone believe in me. Without Mrs Young, I would have never won that award,”