Oscar Martinez: Overcoming the odds
MARC STEWART / Coeur d'Alene School District | Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 month AGO
Venture Academy Vice Principal Skyler Mantz said Oscar is the school’s biggest comeback story this year. He repeated a common mantra often said at Venture to capture the school’s philosophy, “Gentle pressure relentlessly applied.”
Graduation once seemed out of reach for Oscar Martinez.
The Venture Academy senior was confronted with a painful reality at the start of the school year last fall. He didn’t have enough credits to graduate.
The 17-year-old pondered dropping out. But the teachers, counselors and administrators at Venture Academy wouldn’t let it happen without a fight.
“I was two years behind and I didn’t think I would make it, but I made it happen,” said Oscar. “It feels great.”
For the next nine months, Oscar took extra online classes, earned work credits and stayed after school every day to catch up and eventually earn his diploma.
“I am very grateful for Venture,” he said. “I appreciate everyone who took time out of their day to help me over the last year.”
Venture Academy Vice Principal Skyler Mantz said Oscar is the school’s biggest comeback story this year. He repeated a common mantra often said at Venture that captures the school’s philosophy: “Gentle pressure relentlessly applied.”
Teachers, staff and administrators worked tirelessly to keep Oscar on track and focused on graduation.
“We told him, ‘You’re not going to fail.’ It’s what we do here at Venture,” said Mantz. “It doesn’t always work out. But Oscar wanted this and he was willing to put in the work.”
The determination that carried Oscar across the finish line began after a major change in his life.
Oscar grew up in Bakersfield, Calif., before moving to North Idaho to live with his sister, Kirian Wagner, and her husband, Garth.
The move came after his family recognized he needed a fresh start.
“When I got here, I wanted to drop out if I am being honest,” Oscar said. “But my sister said, ‘No. This is your one chance to graduate.’”
Now that he will graduate, Oscar is considering his options and what to do next. He plans to return to Southern California to work in the restaurant industry, but college or a trade school is on the table.
Finding new friends and a support network also played a role in his turnaround.
“All of the teachers and my friends now are really good people and they helped me too,” said Oscar. “I wouldn’t have graduated. I would be nowhere. I wouldn’t be doing anything with my life.”