Mario Diaz has always had a passion about discovering the universe. His dream is to become an astronaut.

The path to his dream hasn’t always been easy. As a young boy, Mario was bullied throughout elementary and middle school because he seemed different. Mario never let his learning disabilities and vision impairment get in the way of being creative. He never paid attention to the negative comments from his fellow students, who would call him weirdo, nerd, and other names. He just continued to follow his dreams and never let the negativity affect his success.

Mario has a tremendous support group at home. They have always encouraged him to pursue his dreams. His mom, dad, sister, and other family members push Mario to finish his education and continue his pathway towards his career in astronomy. His counselor at Madison High school is currently working with Mario to strengthen his skills in an office environment. The goal is to help Mario with following instructions and improving his social skills.  The support he receives from both home and school motivates Mario to become more creative with his endeavors.