FORT HOOD, Texas - Among parents some sentiments are fairly universal, like the desire to see their children excel in academics, sports and extracurricular activities. Or the desire to see their children set challenging goals for themselves and then achieve them. Or even the simple desire to see their children happy.
One 1st Cavalry Division Family has recently seen all of these wants become reality.
Marquez Way, the son of 1st Sgt. Billy Way, the first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, was recently selected to spend a week at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in June.
"I was very excited," Marquez said. "I was just thinking all the hard work that I did paid off, you know. And I was excited because it made me realize that I can do anything that I put my mind to and that I strive for."
The journey for this high school junior began back in the fall of 2014 when his parents recommended that he get involved in the High School Aerospace Scholars program, an interactive experience sponsored by NASA for high school juniors with an interest in science, technology, engineering and math.
After submitting a letter to Texas State Representative Jimmie Aycock and writing an essay and meeting various other requirements, Marquez was selected to begin the competition process, which entailed hours of rigorous online homework.
"I went through the process and I got chosen to do the computer experience basically where you get different modules, different types of homework activities to do, like college sort of, and you have to get them done at a specific date and time," he said. "And they want to see that you're doing good work and putting all your best work into the program to try to select you for the on-site experience."
After completing eight modules that each involved forum discussions, essays, math problems and projects within a time frame of two to three weeks for each module, Marquez was finally able to come up for air.
"I said if you want to do it, you have to pursue it," said 1st Sgt. Billy Way, Marquez's father and avid supporter about his son's decision to pursue the aerospace program. "You have to work hard at it, because it's not going to come easy. If it comes easy, you maybe want to relook it. And he's been working diligently."
And about two weeks after completing the last module, the Way Family found out that Marquez was selected to attend the on-site summer experience for six days at NASA Johnson Space Center this summer.
"I heard that it's a week at NASA Johnson Space Center, and it's basically a week of touring the facilities and doing various different types of projects, meeting new kids from around the Texas area, just basically a summer camp experience in the STEM program," he said.
With this goal basically achieved, the Hinesville, Georgia native has no intention of resting on his laurels.
In addition to his regular school work and his avid involvement in Harker Heights High School track, band, and the National Honor Society, he is also an active volunteer in his church.
"It's a lot, but it's pretty cool to be a part of," Marquez said. "I'm in AP classes, so that's also something to worry about, but it's pretty cool to be able to have all this responsibility, because it makes me a better person, a more responsible person to be able to tackle all of these things at one time."
Adding to the challenges Marquez readily accepts into this life, he has the added challenge of growing up as a military dependent.
"We've moved to about four places so far, and you know, it's hard, because I'm leaving friends that I've met over a great amount of time that I've been involved with in these activities," Marquez said. "I have to kind of start over, you know, prove myself again, prove what kind of runner I was, what kind of player I was. I'm basically starting from the bottom again. And that has gotten easier for me, because now I know how to handle certain situations like that, where a non-military child might not necessarily know how to get back up there and get themselves 100 percent again."
With all his obligations and requirements, a schedule that could easily become stressful, the 17-year old maintains a positive attitude.
"It's all about resilience basically, going through something," Marquez added. "It takes a person to go through something to be able to get through it and basically come out stronger than they were before going in."
And he even influences those around him.
"He motivates me sometimes," Way said. "I see he's still pushing. I know I have to do certain things. It makes me get up and do what I have to do."
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