The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

YES Prep Alumnus: From Day One, YES Prep began Preparing me for College

March 28, 2011 by Tenesha Villanueva

Ryan Martinez graduated from YES Prep Southeast in 2005.  He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he majored in Government with a minor in History and graduated in 2010.  Ryan currently works for the Texas Charter School Association as Regional Coordinator in Houston.  He had this to share about his time at YES Prep and experience in college. 

What is your favorite YES Prep memory?

One of my favorite memories at YES Prep was the spring break trip to the Grand Canyon with Mr. Clafflin’s Geology class.  The week-long trip consisted of a van ride to the Grand Canyon and back.  Along the way we had many memorable moments including climbing a massive hill under moonlight, Mr. Clafflin’s Chubaka calls and the day-long hike at the Grand Canyon. Although the trip consumed the entire week of spring break, it was a great bonding experience and I still had time to finish my spring break homework.

Name the teacher/staff member who had the greatest impact on you and why.   

Mr. Castagnoli was a great teacher. He taught me History and Government for three out of four years of high school. He always used life experiences, current events and music to enhance his lesson plans. Mr. Castagnoli also never missed an opportunity to provide different cultural viewpoints. It was his passion in the subject that inspired me to pursue a degree in Government at UT Austin. 

 How do you feel YES Prep best ensured you were college-ready?

From day one, YES Prep began preparing me for college. Whether it be the higher caliber of classes, homework or the many Spring Trips to colleges around the country; YES Prep has always created an environment that could only breed success that continues, not just in college, but also throughout life.

Knowing what you know now, what one piece of advice would you give to current YES Prep students?

The best advice I can give YES Prep students is to believe in the system YES Prep has created. I know it might seem overwhelming to wake up at 6:30 in the morning only to have an extended school day and top it off with two or three hours of homework a night. But all the time spent and constant reminders that you will attend college are important for students. When it’s time for college, YES Prep graduates might even find the experience to be a little easier.

What was your most difficult experience/time in college?

Making sure I woke up for my morning classes my first semester at UT Austin would be my most difficult experience. YES Prep prepared me for college classes- everything from taking notes to writing papers.  However, not having my mom or dad there to wake me up every morning was by far one of the hardest things I experienced.

How did you become involved in your college campus?

I joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity my first semester of college. To this day, it was the best decision I made at UT Austin. Despite what people believe, we did a lot of community service and every semester we participated in events that benefited local charities in Austin. My fraternity has over 120 years of tradition with Texas and I am very proud to be a small part of it. The bonds and friendships I made will always be cherished and something I will never forget.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment since graduation from YES Prep and/or college?

Besides graduating from YES Prep and TEXAS, I would say finding a job two months after graduation would be my greatest accomplishment.

What are you doing now?

I work for the Texas Charter School Association in Houston. As the Regional Coordinator, I visit parents and faculty of charter schools and inform them of policies TCSA is working on to benefit charter schools in Texas. I also have the opportunity to meet with State Representatives and Senators; a goal of mine when pursuing my degree. I love my job. I always wanted to help YES Prep and this role allows me to do so and as an added bonus, I help other charter schools in Houston. 

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