In their words...
Mark Joseph León -
Class of 2018
I can't speak highly enough of Ms. Martin. Unlike the many coaches you'll encounter, she helps you identify your values and career aspirations through explorative projects. She provides the avenues for you to explore your creativity. I think the most deeply impactful project I completed under her guidance was the final college decision binder. I was able to critically analyze my college choices in a chart that I will also use in evaluating my law school choices. In this final culmination of all our work together that we knew as THE binder, she emphasized the importance of finding yourself by defining your values and developing a personal statement. I am beyond grateful for having had the opportunity to have Ms. Martin teach me the value of chasing my dreams— a message I remind myself of every day.
Pearl Fernandes -
Rice University Class of 2022
"Without a doubt, Ms. Martin has significantly impacted my identity and my approach to life. Academically, the most valuable resource she implemented was the final college prep binder. It provided us with a framework that consolidated the important materials necessary for college applications, including letters of recommendation, service hour logs, college course syllabi, and prospective college rankings. It's a tool that I still utilize to this day! But perhaps the most important resource that she provided us with was her outlook on who we were not only as students but as complex individuals.
Ms. Martin's attitude was always one that emphasized our personhood. Throughout my educational career, I had always been made to think that my stats defined my success. In Ms. Martin's college prep coaching, though, we explored our own identity, whether that was through drafting a personal mission statement, taking personality tests, creating an "I Am" poster (which I sent a picture of in my Rice application!), developing self-portraits, or just engaging in conversations about life, values, and obstacles. She encouraged me to explore my creativity in writing poetry; she helped me find worth in the aspects of my life that I had been shown over and over again were not relevant to my success. It's a lesson I hold dear to my heart; I hang up those self-portraits and all the paintings I've done to remind myself of the importance of balance, peace, and imagination.
Because of her influence on my life, I've adopted a similar approach to mentoring students at Rice University and in the other organizations that I'm a part of. By encouraging my students to be flexible and open to new experiences as they explore their values and aspirations, I hope to have even a fraction of the impact on their lives as Ms. Martin has had on mine."
Ms. Martin's attitude was always one that emphasized our personhood. Throughout my educational career, I had always been made to think that my stats defined my success. In Ms. Martin's college prep coaching, though, we explored our own identity, whether that was through drafting a personal mission statement, taking personality tests, creating an "I Am" poster (which I sent a picture of in my Rice application!), developing self-portraits, or just engaging in conversations about life, values, and obstacles. She encouraged me to explore my creativity in writing poetry; she helped me find worth in the aspects of my life that I had been shown over and over again were not relevant to my success. It's a lesson I hold dear to my heart; I hang up those self-portraits and all the paintings I've done to remind myself of the importance of balance, peace, and imagination.
Because of her influence on my life, I've adopted a similar approach to mentoring students at Rice University and in the other organizations that I'm a part of. By encouraging my students to be flexible and open to new experiences as they explore their values and aspirations, I hope to have even a fraction of the impact on their lives as Ms. Martin has had on mine."
Katie Trinh -
University of Houston
Ms. Martin has truly helped shape me into the person that I am today. Without her, I feel as if I wouldn't know myself on the level that I do today. I feel as if I would still be trying to figure out who I am. Not only has she cared deeply for my mental health, she's always checked up on me and asked how I was doing. I've always seen Ms. Martin as my second mom, and I still do to this day. She helped me find my happiness in high school and allowed me to find myself through trial and error. When I was applying to university, Ms. Martin was incredibly encouraging, especially considering the fact that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and where I wanted to go. She was always patient with me and cared for me like no other. Now, I am thriving at the University of Houston with a clear vision of my future and that is in part thanks to Ms. Martin. Oh, and one of the best parts about her? Her super warm and tight hugs. They are always able to squeeze out any stress or heartache I have.
Christalyn Lewis -
Texas A&M San Antonio
"Ms. Martin has been an absolutely amazing and helpful person in my life. As my college prep coach from 9th to 12 grade in my high school years, she helped guide me along without forcing me down any specific paths. Through simple exercises of deeply thinking through my dreams and goals (career exploration), I was able to create a realistic plan to accomplish what I want to in life that I still look at from time to time. I honestly can’t imagine how different things would be if I didn’t have her as my coach. She gave school, career, and life advice and I know that what she has taught me will stay with me forever. Even now, after some years have passed since graduating high school, she still remains in my life and continues to offer advice and words of wisdom. Ms. Martin is the best!"