A freshman who splits his time between marching formations, robot frames, and creative social-media posts might sound like someone trying to do too much—but for Isaac Cruz, juggling diverse passions is exactly what makes high school worth it. Whether he’s playing with an honor band ensemble, documenting a robotics build, or posting motivational content online, he’s built a reputation as a well-rounded student who throws himself into everything he loves.
As Cruz navigates his first year of high school, he’s already found a rhythm in balancing activities that demand discipline, creativity, and teamwork. His story isn’t just about doing a lot—it’s about discovering how each part of his life strengthens the others and shapes him into a student determined to grow in every direction.
“I am in honor band. I joined band back in sixth grade. I can sightread [music] pretty good,” Cruz said.
That early start in music has influenced the way he approaches challenges. Marching band, with its fast pace and constant adjustments, has taught him resilience and humor in the face of pressure.
“[I am good at] getting called out every day during marching season, [which] builds character development,” Cruz said. “I learned that music can sometimes be hard, [but] as long as you practice, you’ll eventually get it down.”
Those lessons continue to show up in the teamwork he values from band performances, especially when the full ensemble comes together.
“I love hearing the ensemble sound because all of their music is so special,” Cruz said”
As he reflects on the recent season, Cruz’s appreciation for community stands out just as strongly as his musicianship.
“I think we did pretty awesome [during the 2025 marching band season],” Cruz said. “Everyone did a good job making all the new people feel welcome or at home.”
That same sense of belonging carries over into another corner of his life: robotics. On a team where every bolt, wire, and page of documentation matters, Cruz has learned to contribute wherever he’s needed.
“I am on team 7605B [in robotics],” Cruz said. “[My job in robotics is] I help document and help Stephen build sometimes.”
Working on a competitive robotics team has given him a new kind of challenge—one that requires intense patience and problem-solving.
“I’ve learned that building robots is very time consuming and difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Cruz said.
But competitions make the long hours worthwhile and give him another space to grow socially and collaboratively.
“Competitions are pretty fun. I get to hang out with friends for a whole day,” Cruz said. “Everyone on the team is very nice and uplifting and we all make sure we get our work done.”
Beyond school activities, Cruz has also carved out a digital presence where he uses creativity and positivity to reach his peers. His online content gives him a platform to encourage others the same way he has been uplifted in his teams and ensembles.
“My main goal is to help inspire other people to get started because ‘if Isaac can do it, why can’t I?’,” Cruz said. “My main message with these videos is to prove that anything is possible as long as you believe you can do it.”
