Valery ‘Val’ Martin is involved in many activities and organizations both in and outside of GHS. She has a wide variety of interests, and is not only involved in a plethora of sports, including dance and taekwondo, but additionally is in band and choir.
Martin has been doing taekwondo for five years now. She got involved after her brother wanted to try something new and started taking lessons. Her dad was then intrigued and found out he could join. Eventually, her whole family joined, and she is still training in this sport. She received her varsity letter through the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) in 2023. She competed at nationals in sparring and won bronze in 2021 and 2022. Martin competed in a multitude of state tournaments and won gold in 2022. Currently, she plans to continue this sport after high school. Her next goal is to get her fourth-degree black belt. She plans to get this by testing for it with her whole family. Taekwondo is not only a sport for Martin, but a job as well. She works after school at Asian Sun Martial Arts Taekwondo School. She teaches ages from three years old to adults. She has been working there for the past four years. Martin’s favorite aspect of taekwondo is the sense of community that comes with it.
“I have met so many people who have inspired me and are almost like a second family. My coaches and instructors are some of my favorite people,” Martin said.
Martin joined band since both of her parents were in band during school and throughout college. Her mom was a music major in college, so she always played the trumpet around her house growing up. Valarie thought it was cool and wanted to be just like her. Martin is in the marching band and plays the trumpet, just like her mom. Band camp is also available to all those in the band, and it is quite an experience every year.
“Band camp my freshman year we went away to actual band camp. It is about an hour away, and there is no cell service. It was quite an experience being in the middle of nowhere and living on salad and tater tots all week, but it was fun. Band camp my last three years have been at the High School, and we still do all our fun traditions like the dance, the junior/senior social, the senior sleepover, and prank,” Martin said.
Martin’s favorite memory from her years in marching band is going to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. She recalls it as “such a cool experience”. Her favorite part of being in the marching band is the halftime shows they get to perform at during the Friday football games.
Additionally, Valery dances at Diana Durkin’s Dance studio and has been involved in dance for 14 years. Her favorite aspect of the studio is the people.
“I have the best dance teachers ever and I have met some amazing friends through my dance studio. The studio has honestly become my second home,” Martin said.
Tap and contemporary are her favorite genres of dance. Dance is a big part of Martin’s life, and she plans to minor in it in college. Dance means a multitude of things to Valery.
“Being able to express myself without words. I get to create art through shapes and movement and express how I feel in a creative way. It helps me de-stress and dance is something I just love doing,” Martin said.
Additionally, Martin is a member of the National Honors Society at GHS and the National Technical Honors Society at the PLCC. She is currently in the Law and Criminal Justice program at the PLCC. In college, she plans to go on a pre-law track and eventually go to law school. Something that she will miss most after graduating is getting to see her friends every day, band, choir, and the teachers that she has built a good relationship with over the years.
Q&A with Val
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, three! Two brothers and a sister.
What is your favorite movie and why?
Lilo and Stitch! Stitch is my favorite and I just love that movie.
What is your favorite food?
Pasta, any kind of pasta
Who is your favorite music artist?
Noah Kahan or Hozier, I can’t choose
