Ty Martin is a remarkable junior academic team member at Broken Bow High School. Ty got his start with the academic team in hopes to enhance his social skills: “Honestly, it seemed like a fun activity that would help me practice my socialization,” he shared.
Despite facing challenges related to his autism, Ty found his stride within the academic team. “Because of my autism, being in the academic team has helped me come out of my shell and has helped me with my socialization skills,” he explained. Overcoming nervousness and building confidence became pivotal moments for Ty. “A challenging moment that I had and overcame during my time on the academic team was my nervousness around being in front of people and having to answer out loud, but with the help and encouragement of my teammates and my coach, I am now more confident during competition,” he reflected.
His dedication and growth didn’t go unnoticed. “A memorable experience I have had while being a part of the academic team is traveling with my team to different competitions,” Ty recounted. Through weekly practices and independent study, particularly focusing on mythology, Ty honed his skills. “To prepare for competitions, our team would have weekly practices and in my free time I would read up on mythology facts,” he mentioned.
Ty’s academic pursuits extend far beyond the academic team. Balancing his responsibilities, he manages his time effectively. As for the future, Ty intends to pursue interactive media at a four-year college, aspiring to become a 3D modeler.
“Being on the academic team has made me realize how much fun being part of a team can be, and I look forward to being a part of a team in the career I choose,” he expressed.
As for advice to potential academic team members, Ty emphasized the importance of enjoying the experience and not succumbing to undue pressure. “Advice I would give to students if they were considering joining the academic team would be to have fun, don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” he urged. With his dedication and growth, Ty Martin exemplifies the impact of academic teams in shaping not just academic but also personal development.
