Her Story
About Marta
I come from North New Jersey and moved to Florida 32 years ago. My first job was in security, working full-time with two jobs together, and I did that for almost 15 years. I worked hard to get to where I am. Four years ago, I got a chance to move into the field of education because of my background in customer service, where I came from, and my education status. I have truly enjoyed it, helping young people and even people who already have an associate degree move into a bachelor's degree to better themselves while they're working. I come from a home where my father was a doctor, so I understand that not all of us turn out the same, but we can all strive to be great. Right now, I'm dealing with bad scoliosis and recovering from back surgery, but I'm looking forward to returning back more powerful than I started. I miss my kids, my high school kids, because even though they're teenagers, there are a lot of powerful women out there.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marta
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lot of hard work and not using too much of the excuse, oh, I can't do it. I try to prepare myself as much as I could, you know, between studying and mingling with children and all of that. I've had to balance a lot, but I never let obstacles stop me. My mentors from high school, my gym teacher, my science teacher, and my counselors, helped me go with the no situation and make it a yes. That mindset has carried me through everything.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Nothing's impossible. If you want to dream, dream on and go ahead and take it. A lot of people talk about Hispanic people never making it, but look, I'm one of them. I struggle, but I bounce back up. I'm powerful. Even when you're having a child and you're young, you're like a teenager or a young woman, it's kind of hard, but never give up. It's not easy, especially in education where nowadays kids don't want to even finish school, but you have to keep pushing. You can be an empowered woman no matter what.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
It's such a hard field, education, because nowadays they don't want to even finish school. It's hard because when students see someone who has achieved something, like an award or recognition, they ask how did you get that? And I tell them, well, I worked hard. It's not easy, especially when you're young or having a child as a teenager or young woman. But that's also the opportunity - to show them that it's possible, to be there for them, and to help them see that they can make it too.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Giving back to the community is one of my most important values. I want people to know I'm here to help them. I don't care if I am a high, big person with some standing, maybe doing something for the state or something, but I just want people to say, oh, because of her, I'm here. That's it. I'm very simple. Even when I'm on sick leave, I still show up to a lot of functions for cancer, for children, trying to do as many things so they can know I'm there. I don't have an issue making time to give back to the community. If anybody needs me for anything, they can call me down, and I'll make time.
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