Graduating from high school is a monumental achievement along life’s path, and moving on from there it becomes what the next step will be, whether that be a college education,  a commitment to serving in the armed services, vocational training at a technical college, or jumping right into the work force. For a graduating student from Gateway High School, Angel Martinez Acevedo, his decision was a move toward a well-known Ivy League school, Yale University.

Angel began Gateway High School 4 years ago after moving to Osceola County with his family after his father retired from the United States Army. Angel made sure to keep himself open to new opportunities and was very active in many programs at Gateway. He participated in theatre playing one of the leads in the high school’s rendition of Godspell, played Water Polo, and was a member of the International Baccalaureate program, and French National Honor Society.

“I try to stay well rounded as possible”, says Angel. Knowing that he wanted to set lofty goals high for his life, Angel joined the Gateway High School International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which is a program that challenges highly motivated, college-bound students with rigorous curriculum to get them ready for college, and helps develop skills for their future.

“My top choices for college are excellent schools, University of Florida, Florida International University, New York University, and Yale.”

In high school one of the tests students are required to take is the PSAT. Angel took that same test and scored in the top 1% in the nation which qualified him for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT).

“It was a complete surprise that I scored in the top 1% and that I was one of the students who received the National Merit Scholarship!”

Angel applied to all four colleges and patiently waited for March 28th to come, that was the day that the Ivy League School released their acceptance letters. NYU released their’s early, and of course, Angel was accepted. He also received word that he was accepted into the UF and FIU! That evening Angel’s dream came true when he opened the letter from Yale, which read…“Congratulations Angel!”

Javier Martinez, Angel’s father proudly shared with Positively Osceola, “I am so proud of my son and I will always be his biggest fan.”

Angel leaves at the end of August to pursue his dreams at Yale, studying Global Affairs. With a passion for learning, Angel has always been interested in different languages, people, and traveling. After college Angel would like to get involved in Global Activism because he truly wants to make a positive difference in the world.

In closing Angel shared “I hope to work very hard to deserve it all.”