Maya Martinez Fernandez

Maya’s family have been members of the Peoria Branch for 12 years.

To connect with the community, she has participated in Torch Club and Keystone. Additionally, she volunteered in her Clubs program areas, helping with more involved art projects that needed an extra set of hands. She has also had the opportunity to do volunteer work for many charities and organizations, including packaging food for St. Mary’s Food Bank.

Maya has plans to become a nurse like her mother so she can help people in need. CPR certified, she’s also taking Sports Medicine and Child Development courses in school. She also has a passion for writing and wants to become an author focusing on creating stories that center on characters with mental health issues as a way to normalize conversation around and bring understanding to this issue. Maya has a desire to be a beacon of hope.

Maya enjoys the theater arts and choir, and has aspirations to pursue acting. She is involved in these programs at her school and really enjoys the emotional outlet they provide.

Q: Who would you like to have dinner with and why?

I would absolutely love to have dinner with Hypatia of Alexandria. She was one of the best mathematicians and philosophers of her time around 355 AC, and basically revolutionized the world of math single handedly. When she was murdered, part of the mathematic and philosophy world died with her as well. I would love to know about her in person, and see all the bright and intelligent ideas she had.

Q: What technology are you most excited about in the future?

I, for one, am very excited for the different kinds of medicines and advanced technology we could create for illnesses and diseases. Not only would it be incredibly beneficial, but I really hope that it will be accessible and affordable to all types of people, in different states, countries, and income class. Not only that, but it can make new jobs for all sorts of potential individuals.

Jerry & Helen Wisotsky/Peoria Branch

Age 17 Senior Peoria High School