A walk to remember

Jesse Martinez Jr. got the rock star treatment Saturday as he took the commencement stage at Freeman Coliseum.

Martinez, 19, received a standing ovation for something most take for granted: He walked.

A milestone for each of the 400 South San Antonio High School graduates, Martinez's walk to accept his diploma was a lifelong dream achieved with grit, sacrifice and determination.

He was born with cerebral palsy and lost both legs at an early age. Saturday was the first time he walked with his prosthetics in public.

With help from his teachers and senior class advisor, Martinez stood in his blue cap and gown, flashed a smile for the cameras and walked.

I believe that because something isn't probable does not mean it's impossible, he said. Anything can be done with the right state of mind.

Never one for special treatment, his teachers said, Martinez completed the work he missed during absences for surgery or rehabilitation. He stayed involved in activities such as fundraisers for school dances, and he was determined to walk the stage for graduation.

This is pretty much an event that I've long waited for, and I'm glad to get it done. It's overwhelming, Martinez said.

It's been a challenge, but I love a challenge, he added. It makes the world a better place, not just for me but for everyone.

As his bones grow, surgery is sometimes required, said Tim Tucker, administrator for secondary special education programs. Recovery and rehabilitation follow.

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A walk to remember