When Aaron Salazar started high school, he wasn’t the type to stand out. He mostly kept to himself and hung out with a few close friends. Now, as a senior, you can find him everywhere: on the wrestling mat, the baseball field, marching with ROTC, and even competing for Mr. Cardinal.

“I used to be really antisocial,” Salazar said. “Sports helped me step out of my comfort zone and actually talk to people. Now I try to be there for others the way my teammates were there for me.”

Sports have been the biggest turning point in his high school years. Sophomore year, a friend convinced him to join ROTC, and it gave him confidence. By junior year, he was balancing football, wrestling, and baseball all at once.

“Junior year was probably the best year of my life,” he said. “I made a lot of friends and got really close with my coaches.”

Out of all his activities, wrestling is the one that means the most to him.

“Motivation fades,” Salazar said. “Discipline keeps me going even when I don’t feel like it. Wrestling pushes me to be consistent, and that carries into the rest of my life.” 

Wrestling helps you be more determined to win. It’s something that winning isn’t always going to be gifted to you; you have to face tough challenges. This is another way of keeping yourself disciplined and consistent, and walking up with confidence.

That mindset was especially important when he faced hard times. After coming back from a funeral in Mexico, his grades slipped, and catching up wasn’t easy.

“It was stressful, but it taught me nothing is handed to you; you’ve got to work for it,” he said.

Salazar’s dad has also been a big influence on how he sees the world.

“My dad’s my role model,” Salazar said. “He’s hardworking and always provides for us. Once, one of my friends didn’t have money for food, and my dad told me it’s better to share and eat together than let someone sit there hungry. That stuck with me.”

He also credits some of his teachers, especially Ms. Madrid, for guiding him through tough times.

“She always took the time to talk to me and help me focus,” he said. “Not all teachers do that, so I really appreciated her.”

This year, Salazar decided to take on something totally different, Mr. Cardinal. At first, he wasn’t sure about stepping into the spotlight, but friends encouraged him to go for it.

“I realized it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “If I win, I don’t just want the title. I want to be a role model and represent the school in a positive way.”

Looking back, Salazar says he’s proud of how far he’s come, from being a shy freshman to a senior others look up to.

“I want to be remembered for my energy,” he said. “People come to me with their problems, and I try to make them smile. That’s what matters most to me.”

As for what’s next, Salazar hopes to wrestle in college or through the military. No matter where he ends up, he plans to carry the lessons he’s learned about discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

“High school really can change your life,” he said. “My advice is to be yourself, step out of your comfort zone, and manage your time well. These four years go by fast, but they can shape who you are.”