School: Yadkin Early College High School

Hometown: Yadkinville, NC

Roots: Mexico

Cristo Daniel Salazar

Originally from Mexico, Cristo Daniel Salazar-Martinez is a 17 year-old high school student from rural North Carolina. He enjoys learning new things and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. One day, he hopes to teach English and study public health. He is inspired by his family’s tenacity and resilience through hardships they’ve experienced together and is determined more than ever to help others reach their goals and pursue higher education. Cristo dreams of making a difference in this world by helping others realize that our voice as a collective has power and that our history and culture has great meaning. Stemming from lessons in his personal experiences, he believes an immigration status should not stop anyone from reaching their full potential. This belief has spurred his current work on a project that showcases important information surrounding immigration, as well as education and scholarships.