For Jacob Evan Torres, fitting in at school has had its challenges.
Jacob didn't talk much and mostly kept to himself when he started sixth grade at Col. John O. Ensor Middle School.
Now in eighth grade, Jacob has found a sense of belonging through music therapy, advanced art classes, and the unwavering support of his parents and teachers. Whether on stage singing the National Anthem or displaying his artwork at the District Service Center, Jacob has found his place at Socorro ISD.
“The reason why (students should have opportunities) is because you don’t have to be left out of a puzzle,” said Jacob, who was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) in March. “You can (fit into) the puzzle; you just have to find what piece you are.”
In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, Jacob was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in May.
Jacob’s success serves as an inspiration for other students, showing that they, too, can overcome challenges and thrive.
Jacob’s mom, Adriana Salazar, said that her son is on the autism spectrum and his achievements are largely due to the excellent teachers who have supported him along the way.
“I love that he’s here at SISD,” said Salazar, a special education teacher at Loma Verde Elementary. “We have so many programs. We have FLS (functional living skills) and it’s all individualized. SISD divides their learning styles, and their abilities and disabilities into classrooms, which will help him.”
When Jacob was in the third grade, one of his teachers noticed his talent for drawing. To motivate Jacob to concentrate on his schoolwork, the teacher offered him a deal that if he finished his work first, he could draw during class.
Since then, Jacob's passion for drawing has grown. He has designed t-shirts and posters for school events and the children’s oncology ward at the El Paso Children's Hospital. He also has created short, animated films featuring Godzilla on TikTok. Jacob’s TikTok account has more than 80,000 followers.
“I’ve always wanted to become a professional artist when it comes to being an animator,” Jacob said. He is preparing for his future career by enrolling in the animation program at Eastlake High School, starting in the fall of 2024. “That’s going to be my track.”
Salazar said Jacob didn't speak until he was seven, but he had been singing since he was three years old. Singing helped to soothe him, and when he was given the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at his NJHS induction ceremony, he worked with his music therapy teacher, Aliyah Gardea, to prepare. His performance was a great success, and since then, he has performed the National Anthem at the 2024 SISD Spring Games and the Partners in Education luncheon in April.
“It makes me feel like I was already a hit,” Jacob said referring to the cheers and applause he received after his performances.
Christopher James Martin, a teacher in Ensor’s Practical Academic Skills (PAS) unit, has seen Jacob evolve from a shy little kid to a confident young man over the past three years.
“He wasn’t a reader, and he was scared of math,” Martin recalled when he first met Jacob. “And we just said, ‘We’ll take care of you, you just do the work we ask.’ And we started slow and then built and built. We kind of tried to peel away the autism because that’s really what impedes their ability to learn. And once we did that, he took off. He just flourished.”
Today, Jacob is reading at nearly a seventh-grade level, and he has a 97 GPA. He is enrolled in three mainstream classes: theater, physical education, and art.
Salazar attributes her son’s success to Martin, who was recently named the 2024 SISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. She said Martin pushed Jacob out of his comfort zone to try new things like theater and student council.
“Mr. Martin doesn’t see his disability; he just says he’s smart, he’s bright, we just have to push him because of the autism, but he’s capable of doing everything everyone else is doing, which I love.”
However, Martin gives credit to Jacob for his hard work and for trusting his teachers to help and guide him on his path.
“I think he’s a testament to a young man that can work really hard, and he found his way, and he found his voice and that’s really beautiful,” Martin said. “And I’ve been lucky enough to be there for a ride.”