Untitled - Saint George School

A foundation of Michael’s success can also be linked
to his faith as a Christian that fits within his family’s
values and from which he finds inspiration and
strength. Passion, faith, integrity, and ambition for
excellence for its own sake form the core of this
young man. Michael’s unique combination of measured
temperament with intensity provides him a style of
leadership that quickly brings others on board by his
example. He is confident in his foundation and from
that steady base he has accomplished in many areas
what few of us have ever considered in even one area.
When a young man or woman naturally gravitates to
the greatest challenges, does not flinch in the face of
pressure, and finds success, this is the sign of a natural
born leader.
Michael’s unique capabilities at his young age have
much to do with his foundation firmly rooted within
his Christian faith in the household from which much
of his emotional strength stems, and Michael’s own
ambitions to walk the line between the most rigorous
high school academic program in this country and his
own pursuit of baseball at the highest level. By virtue
of his level of involvements and the successes found in
each, Michael is inherently a role model for young and
old alike. You might know of Michael in the context
of one or two of these activities, but to grasp the
immensity of his perseverance and accomplishment is
to understand the complexity of all he has achieved
simultaneously. Through it all, Michael keeps a modest
profile, but we know better, and take pride in knowing
that our collective future looks brighter with the next
generation of leaders made in the mold of Michael
Landestoy.
10 / AGORA
4. Where you see Galia... you see Michael.
5. Michael during the Team Captains’
presentation. 6. Michael as Willy Wonka
during the 2012 Field Day Opening.
Back in December 2012, the opportunity came to
me to return to my homeland, to go back to a place
that has seen me grow on quite a regular basis for more
than 15 years of my life, the city of Havana, Cuba.
Having frequently visited and grown within a country
that has counted with such a diverse yet isolated
culture for such an extended period of time has not
only been a matter of vacation and traveling, for my
experiences in this environment have gone on to form
a part of my identity, of who I am. I have been actively
participating in diplomatic events and conferences
organized by the Consulate of Cuba in the Dominican
Republic for the past 3 years, with the aim and hope of
being able to lead an entirely new generation of young
compatriots of mine to join efforts and enthusiasm
by Christian Martínez,
5th Form Student
in order to not only inspire much desired motivation
and structural changes within my country, but to also
promote the values, ethics, and discipline that have
made Cuba a worldwide reference when it comes
to areas such as education, public health, and human
development.
The average monthly wage in Cuba is twenty US
dollars. The country’s current leadership is comprised
almost exclusively of elderly men, many in their 70’s
and 80’s. Against this setback, the government is
trying to find a way to connect with the youthful
population and ensure the long-term viability of the
ideals introduced by Fidel Castro back in 1959. Being
part of a select group of high school students of the
AGORA / 11