In fourth grade, Alberto Martin Del Campo found more than just classmates; he found a group of friends who changed his life. Even after moving an hour away, he has held onto those bonds at the heart of everything he does, from building robots to dreaming of rockets, and even competing for Mr. Cardinal.

“I moved away from them, but I’m still in contact with them. They’ve been really big in my life; if I didn’t meet them, my personality would probably be different, Martin Del Campo said.

Obviously, change is hard, especially when it comes to a new environment and leaving behind old people, but it has also opened new opportunities here at San Bernardino High, through the Robotics Club.

“I’ve joined because my friend is now the president of the Robotics Club. It’s fun,” he said. “I made a lot of friends here. So it’s very inviting.” 

While the club has given him a sense of belonging, he also recognizes the struggles and challenges.

“I think the issue is just money this time. We gotta fund it now ourselves for the club, if we make it to the tournaments,” Del Campo said.

This makes him think of what he would do if he were Mr. Cardinal, and when asked, he says he would want to help around the community, to give back.

He believes that the school community is good, but the troubling thing is the reputation and how people view the school.

“I think I would strive for better. The campus is not bad. I think it’s just, I guess, reputation, like, how people view the school.”

So what makes him a strong leader for the school? When asked about leadership, he explained:

“As a leader, you need to be calm so you can make good choices. You can’t panic. You also have to be trustworthy. If people don’t trust their leader, then you’re not a good leader. And you need to be intelligent.”

These are all traits that he believes he has. Looking back, he admits he didn’t know what he wanted, and if he had the chance to talk to his younger self, he would give himself the following advice. 

“I’d say, chase what you want.”

Now he knows what he wants next for his life: a future in aerospace. 

“I think it’s cool in space, you can be able to make rockets, you know, satellites, or whatever.” 

For him, running for Mr. Cardinal isn’t just about recognition. It’s about giving back to his school, building community, and preparing for the next stage of life.