Future 5 Helped Him See What was Possible.

Justin Martinez didn’t grow up believing he was “a tech person.” In his first coding class, he struggled. He asked for help constantly. More than once, he wondered if he belonged in a field that felt intimidating and out of reach. But someone believed in him. And that belief changed everything.

Today, Justin is a Computer Science major at UConn, building real-world technology and helping other students find their way forward.

One Moment Can Change a Path

Justin’s curiosity began in high school, when a simple coding project showed him something powerful: he could create. Not perfectly. Not easily. But honestly. That moment of finally understanding, of watching something he built come to life on a screen, sparked a love for problem solving that still drives him today.

Where Future 5 Stepped In

Justin found Future 5 while looking for academic support. Even before he was accepted, he kept showing up, attending workshops, and staying connected. When he joined, he didn’t just gain access to programs. He gained people.

Through Future 5 and partners like the Synchrony Skills Academy, Justin learned tools, frameworks, and real-world skills that helped turn curiosity into confidence.

From Needing Help to Giving It

One of Justin’s proudest achievements was building a cybersecurity training platform during his internship, a tool designed so other students could practice safely and learn by doing.

Today, Justin is a teaching assistant in a class he once struggled through, helping students who feel exactly the way he once did. That’s the ripple effect of support.