Fighting His Way Through School

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

“Ladies aaand gentlemen, the following contest, brought to you by Live Oak Texas Vodka, is scheduled for three rounds in the fury amateur series bantamweight division,” bellows the ring announcer. “Introducing your first competitor, fighting out of the blue corner, this mixed martial artist stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall, and he weighed in at a perfect 135 pounds. Fighting out of Gaaalveston, Texas, today he makes his amateur debut. Here is Houuustin Maaarza!”

Wearing black boxing shorts with red trim, the fighter jumps up and down in the corner of the ring, punches the air and beats his chest with his gloved right hand as the crowd around the ring hollers and cheers.

Thus began the 17-year-old's debut MMA match in February, to work his way up the ladder to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), part of the largest MMA promotion in the world.

The high school senior, who started with TTU K-12 in eighth grade, has had the capability to work at his own pace, which has allowed him to pursue his MMA career.

“That is one of the perks of choosing TTU K-12 over a conventional school: the freedom it provides for my training schedule,” Houstin said. “I dedicate my time to training for five to six days every week, often twice a day. The flexibility to tackle coursework during my available time slots enables me to accomplish not just my educational objectives but also fulfill my ambitions as a student involved in athletics.”

Saying he has had a great time as a learner, Houstin's favorite part of attending TTU K-12 has been being able to do school where he is comfortable, and that he finds the dynamic classes and hands-on learning quite enjoyable.

“Every educator I've encountered has been supportive and exceptionally friendly,” Houstin said.

Kimberlee Marza, Houstin's mom, enthusiastically agrees with Houstin's summation of the TTU K-12 team.

“All the staff we have encountered, from teachers to counselors, have been extremely supportive, helpful and knowledgeable of any situation that arose,” she said. “Navigating the end-of-course and college entrance exams has been extremely easy, thanks to the support staff at TTU K-12.”

Kimberlee also said the school has been an amazing opportunity for her son, especially during his time in high school and as a student-athlete.

“You truly feel like your child is a part of a school community, not just an online school program,” she said. “One of my biggest takeaways as a parent is that TTU K-12 is not only preparing my child for success by teaching him the academics he needs but also life skills like time management and scheduling so he can be independent and successful on his own.”

The independence provided through TTU K-12 has allowed Houstin to achieve other accomplishments, including becoming an Eagle Scout, third-degree black belt in taekwondo and blue belt in jiujitsu. He also had his first job at age 16 last summer as a lifeguard for the City of Galveston. His future goals are to be a UFC champion and successful entrepreneur.

For those contemplating TTU K-12, Houstin recommends it as an excellent option, especially if the conventional school setting “doesn't suit you.”

“This choice grants you the autonomy to establish your personalized timetable,” he said. “You have the privilege of weaving schooling into your daily routine, allowing you to lead your life without restrictions imposed by traditional school schedules.”

Remember the name Houstin Marza, a young man fighting his way to success. And that debut match?

“Ladies aaand gentlemen, the win comes one minute and 50 seconds into the third and final round,” asserts the ring announcer. “Declaring your winner by tap-out due to a rear naked choke, Houstiiin Maarza!”

And the crowd goes wild.