"DOUBT IS TEMPORARY, BUT DETERMINATION IS FOREVER" by Estrella Martinez
- Embrace Doubt
- Apr 6
- 10 min read
Estrella Martinez
School District: San Isidro ISD
High School: San Isidro High School
Sports Played: Volleyball, Basketball, Cross-Country, Track and Golf
Class of 2026
Age: 18
Academic Achievements and Awards:
Salutatorian- Class of 2026 Ranked 2nd out of 13 students (Top 15%), Honor Roll Student, Regional Qualifier- UIL Academic Competition, Member- National Honor Society, President- Student Council, Vice President- Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Recipient , KRGV Channel 5 Scholarship
Athletic Achievements and Awards:
Cross country- 2x state qualifier; first female/student in school history to advance to state, Volleyball- Varsity Co-libero, Basketball Co-sixth man, Track and field Regional qualifier, Golf varsity participant
I am from San Isidro, Texas, where I’ve spent my entire life surrounded by a close-knit community. My love for sports began in my early childhood after watching my older brothers compete in cross country. Seeing their success inspired me to follow in their footsteps and push myself to become the best version of me. Over time, running became more than just a sport, it became my escape and a way to express who I am. I’ve qualified for the state meet twice, during my sophomore and junior years, and even though I missed it by five seconds as a freshman and faced a concussion this year, I’ve continued to stay determined and train for what’s ahead. Setting goals and working hard to achieve them has taught me discipline, perseverance, and passion, qualities that define who I am both on and off the course.
My role model is my older sister, who is the eldest of the four of us, while I’m the youngest. I look up to her not only because she’s like a second mom to me, but also because she’s been my biggest supporter through everything. When she was struggling with a brain tumor, I would sit by her side, praying she would feel better. Seeing her in that state made me realize how important and valuable family truly is. It inspired me to want to give back to my family for all the sacrifices they’ve made and the strength they’ve shown. All the challenges we’ve faced have brought us closer together and taught me that nothing is impossible if we have faith and keep striving forward. My sister’s strength and love continue to inspire me to work hard and never give up.
My advice to younger athletes is to push yourself and strive to be your best, but also remember to have fun and enjoy the process. Everyone makes mistakes, that’s just part of learning and growing, so don’t take a coach’s criticism personally, and don’t be too hard on yourself or overdo it. Always cheer on your teammates, whether you win or lose, and maintain good body language because confidence starts with how you carry yourself. Always give high fives, not low fives; I’ve always told my teammates that low fives are sloppy. It’s called a high five for a reason: to go up strong and stand tall. When you stand tall and stay positive, you’ll feel confident in everything you do. And remember, we’re only human; we all make mistakes. Most importantly, never forget the three W’s: who you’re doing it for, what you’re striving to achieve, and why you started in the first place. Keeping these in mind will help you stay focused, confident, and proud of how far you’ve come.
I often tell myself, “I don’t think I can,” and I tend to be my own biggest critic. I’m quick to lift others up and remind them of their worth, but I struggle to do the same for myself. During my freshman year, I missed qualifying for state in cross country by just five seconds, and it really discouraged me. I started questioning whether I was good enough or if all my hard work was even worth it. But instead of giving up, I used that disappointment as motivation to train harder and believe in myself. The following years, I qualified for state twice, which taught me that setbacks don’t define you, they prepare you for success. That experience showed me that doubt is temporary, but determination lasts forever, and I’ve learned that believing in yourself is the first step toward achieving anything.
This year, in the middle of my senior season, I suffered a concussion in our last non-district game before district competition began for both cross country and volleyball. I was already having a rough day, but I didn’t let it bring me down. I kept pushing through and trying to perform my best and be the cheerleader I have always been for my team. During the third set, two of my teammates dove for the ball, and as I ran to cover, I realized I might collide with them. Instead of stopping, I decided to jump to avoid stepping on one of their faces, and I ended up falling hard and hitting my head. I’ve always told myself I’d rather get hurt than for someone to end up getting hurt. That moment led to my concussion, and it’s been a difficult recovery both physically and mentally. One thing my coach told me was to go 5 mph instead of 95mph, because I’ve always been the type to push myself too hard. Even though it’s frustrating not being able to be back on my feet like before, I’m learning to slow down and be patient with myself. I’ve started to see this as an opportunity to grow, to work on being more positive and resilient instead of being my own worst critic. This setback reminded me that healing takes time, and sometimes strength means slowing down and trusting the process. I just have to continue to have faith every day, because I know it will all be worth it in the end.
Sometimes the pressure, exhaustion, and frustration made me question why I even kept going. One of the biggest challenges for me has been having different coaches every year. It’s hard to adjust to new coaching styles and expectations, and sometimes it makes me feel like giving up. Adjusting to change has torn me apart as an athlete at times, but it has also made me stronger, more disciplined, and more resilient. I remind myself of the three W’s — who I’m doing it for, what I’m striving to achieve, and why I started in the first place. Don’t give up on something you just started, because hard work and dedication will get you far. It’s not about the wins or loses; it’s about the relationships you build, the growth you experience, and the memories you create along the way. I set goals for myself to push beyond my limits and to prove that the impossible is possible.
I would tell someone who wants to quit that the feeling of wanting to give up is temporary, but the regret of not trying will last forever. Keep showing up, even on the hard days, because those are the moments that truly shape you. You’re stronger than you think, just trust the process, have faith in yourself, and never forget why you started. I like to remind myself of this quote: “Make a habit of doing things that unsuccessful people don’t like to do.” — Michael Phelps. That quote keeps me grounded and reminds me that greatness comes from discipline, not comfort. And most importantly, never forget the three W’s — who, what, and why.
The most important advice I’ve ever received came from my class sponsor, teacher, and coach, Mr. Ortiz. He once told me, “You weren’t made to fit in; you were born to stand out.” He’s seen me struggle before, and he has always been one of my biggest supporters. Not only does he give me motivational quotes, but when he sees me nervous or stressed, he tries to make me laugh and reminds me to have fun—teaching me to enjoy the moment and not just focus on the pressures of sports or school. Even when I feel like giving up, he reminds me that the most important part is to have fun and embrace the experience. His guidance has taught me to face challenges with resilience, pursue my goals even when they feel scary, and recognize the value of believing in myself. Thanks to him, I’ve learned that standing out isn’t something to fear—it’s something to celebrate, and it has shaped the way I approach leadership, teamwork, and personal growth in my life.
When I see the words “embrace doubt,” they remind me so much of myself. I am usually the first one on the court, on the track, or in the course, ready for whatever is to come. My coach often says, “Estrella is the type of person who craves pain,” but in reality, I don’t crave pain; I crave growth, which for me is a different thing. Embracing doubt means refusing to let self-doubt define my potential and pushing forward despite setbacks. Even after every workout, I finish strong and give it my all because I want to excel at what I do. Through hard work, perseverance, and discipline, I continue striving to become better, knowing that effort and resilience make success deserved.I plan to support and inspire the next generation of athletes by mentoring younger students, just as others have guided me. I’ve spent time working with them, staying by their side, and helping them in any way I can, both academically and athletically. Many of the kids look up to me and tell me they want to be like me, but I always tell them, “Do you want to be me, or do you want to be something even bigger?” I teach them that it’s okay to have role models, but the most important thing is to be yourself. I guide them, encourage them to believe in their own potential, and help them develop confidence, resilience, and a love for their sport. My goal is to empower future athletes to chase their dreams while staying true to who they are and supporting one another along the way.
In the next five years, I see myself graduating from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with a degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Science while continuing to pursue my studies in Physical Therapy. I also see myself giving back to my community by mentoring and inspiring younger students, helping them realize and reach their true potential. My goal is to combine my education and athletic experiences to positively impact others, both academically and athletically, and to encourage the next generation to believe in themselves and strive for excellence.
-Estrella Martinez/Embrace Doubt 2026
Photography by: SIISD Yearbook Staff and Karla Galvan
Coaches Corner:
Estrella is the epitome of what it means to be a 1A student in the state of Texas. She participates in just about every, if not all, extracurricular activity our school has to offer, works hard in every single one of them, and excels. From a leadership standpoint, she was elected and currently serves as the president of Student Council and vice-president of FCCLA, as well as a member of the National Honor Society. She also competes in UIL Academics, where she has helped her teams reach the regional level of competition for three straight years.
Outside of the academic realm, Estrella exhibits selflessness by volunteering the little free time she has to serve her church, assisting with other events and organizations in the community, and contributing to her family in any way she can. In a way, she has basically served as a pretty good assistant without actually being named an assistant in all aspects of my job, whether it be preparing for basketball, baseball, cross country, track, or even UIL Academics. Truth be told, I have no idea what I would do if it was not for her.
She also serves as a positive role model for her peers and the next generation by showing up every day with a positive attitude, being there to support her teammates every step of the way, and checking in on the youth, helping them with anything they might need. Very rarely throughout my career as a teacher have I heard elementary, middle school, and even young high school students actually verbalize that they look up to a senior in high school, but I have heard several say they want to be like Estrella when they get to be her age. Then again, I have also never seen a senior spend so much time with the youth, caring for them and helping them out as I have seen her do.
From an athletic standpoint, Estrella participates in every athletic sport our school has to offer, serving as the cheer captain, doing the work to be named a basketball captain, advancing to state competition in cross country for two years, and regional competition in track and field for three. Estrella makes it a point to show up every day (which is already a challenging task for some) with a positive attitude, and no matter whether things go her way or not, she never falters in cheering on her teammates; even if it means they beat her out in a race or for playing time.
And being 100% honest, there is absolutely no reason she should have been on our basketball team that lost to the eventual state semifinalist. I only say this because back in September, during volleyball, she suffered a severe concussion that put her in a medically-induced coma and had all of us uncertain when or if she would wake up. She eventually woke up and followed her return-to-learning and return-to-play protocol, but definitely struggled along the way; especially knowing her senior year cross country season would be cut short. And in my opinion, no one in their right mind would even think about suiting out for another contact sport, but there is nothing ordinary about Estrella. Through hard work and overcoming adversity, Estrella completed her basketball season, advanced to the regional level in golf, and is on track to advance to the regional level in track once again. When a single moment of adversity could have defined her, Estrella decided to push her limits, move forward, and grow; and I think our program and her peers are better, if not inspired, because I know I certainly am.
Estrella says she doesn’t want to be a coach, but she has all the makings to be a really good one; but even if she doesn’t pursue that route and she becomes the athletic trainer she dreams of becoming, that would be no surprise at all because she will undoubtedly find a way to be a servant who gives back to the sports that have allowed her to reach her full potential and fully be herself.
I really wish I could have kept this short, but given how much she does, how successful she is, and how well-rounded of a person she is, cutting it any shorter would not have done Estrella justice. Losing her to graduation will certainly be a big void to fill, but there is no question she will achieve great things as a first-generation college student and will continue to positively impact anyone she interacts with.
-Coach Aaron Alvarado
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