By Martin Juarez, Spark Graduate, Hoover Summer 2007

 My name is Martin, and my apprenticeship at Spark was in journalism. I worked with Heather Murtagh at the San Mateo Daily Journal. Heather taught me whatever in journalism I wanted to learn. We took pictures and talked about a story I was going to write, and it turned into an article I wrote on pilot safety at the San Carlos Airport. I was excited to see it published in the newspaper!

The apprenticeship was fun and I learned a lot. I liked the field trips and workshops too. My favorite was our visit to Google, which has really cool buildings and offices. We got to meet many people who work there, and learn about how you can work at a company like that. Twice per week we also had workshops, and my favorite was with a plumber, when we soldered metal piping together. I also really liked a workshop on how to make your own website.

Spark made me more confident, and helped me get over my fear of speaking in public. It also taught us about our community and how we could help. Spark helps kids think of their future and shows you how to become a leader.

A Word From Martin’s Apprentice Teacher, Heather Murtagh:
Talking to strangers is a big part of my job, and when Martin started, he was very shy. He gradually overcame that, and it was really gratifying for me to watch his presentation at the end of the summer. His success showed in his final speech, in his comfort level with presenting himself in a professional manner.

Martin's Spark Story