The college journey can feel overwhelming at first—but it’s also an opportunity to discover your passions, your purpose, and your potential. For Javier Martinez, a member of DSST: Elevate's founding Class of 2025, it’s been a chance to reflect, grow, and dream big.
"The college process is really about exploring your options. There are so many different colleges and universities out there, and you have to consider the academic factors you're looking for, financial aid opportunities, and the kind of college community you want to be part of.”
Javier saw the impact firsthand when he applied to Colorado Mesa University. "With financial aid through the FAFSA, it made a huge difference in the overall cost," he said. "It just makes things more manageable and helps you feel more comfortable and secure about the money you’ll be spending."
But for Javier, the future isn’t only about where he’s going—it’s also about what he wants to do. "I’ve already chosen my career path—I want to go into auto mechanics and aerospace mechanics," he explained. "And if possible, I’d like to apply for financial aid and maybe even look into working with a couple of open companies afterward."
That career dream was sparked early, right at home.
"I live on a ranch, so we have a couple of cars—and some of them don’t work," he said. "What really got me interested in working on cars was my dad. He used to work on them, and I’d just watch him. I feel like there was this joyful struggle—he’d have a hard time sometimes, but once he fixed something and got the car running, it was like a reward. Like, you did it yourself."
His goal now? To build, sell, and repair cars not just for profit, but to support the community. "I don’t want to do it just for the money... I want to be someone they can count on."
"I think what draws me in is how much power you can add to a car, how you can change things to make it faster,” Martinez said. “It grabs my attention—it’s that adrenaline rush. I want to be able to build fast cars, sell them and help people out, too. Mechanic work can be expensive, but I don’t want to do it just for the money. I want to help the community. If someone’s struggling financially, I don’t want them to have to worry about car repair costs. I want to be someone they can count on."
It’s a mindset shaped by purpose—and by the people who’ve been in his corner.
"My mentors and teachers have helped me achieve my dreams by always supporting me," he said. "Anytime I had a question—even if I thought it was a dumb one—they never made me feel that way... our teachers and directors never excluded anyone. They treated every student the same and made sure to help each one equally." That sense of belonging and encouragement becomes a foundation for growth.
"I feel like no matter what kind of mistake you make, it doesn’t define who you are,” said Martinez. “You shouldn’t let your mistakes hold you back. Everyone is different, and everyone is going to mess up at some point. You just have to keep going. I think the hardest things in life are often the most rewarding. When you push through and come out the other side, you feel proud of yourself. So even if something feels hard or you feel stuck, just keep moving forward—because at the end of every dark room, there’s a light."
He’s even got a quote that keeps him going: "Success consists of going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” These words serve as a reminder that failure isn’t the end, it's often just the beginning of something better.
As a senior in Elevate’s founding class, Javier knows he’s not just paving the way for himself—he’s leaving a legacy.
"It makes me feel pretty good, because I know there are younger kids who look up to us and admire what we do,” he said. “That makes me feel proud of myself, like I’m doing the right thing. I’m putting in the effort and setting a good example for the younger grades. Honestly, it feels inspiring."
And with that legacy comes a hope for an even stronger community. For Martinez, that means people coming together from all walks of life to “hang out, get along, and not have problems with each other.”
“I don’t really see this as just being about Elevate, but more about students learning to respect the teachers and everything they do,” he said. “The teachers here are doing everything they can to help us, and I think we should show them respect and work toward building a stronger, more supportive community."