Featured Parenting Student of the Week: Elvia Martinez!

Elvia's journey to UCLA has not always been easy, but she has never been the kind of women to shy away from adversity. After high school motherhood and family obligations caused Elvia to put her education on hold but, after ten years of working and caring for her daughter, she decided to go back to community college even though she was "unsure" of what she wanted to accomplish. "I came across one professor that believed in me, Professor Oleas," she recalls. With the motivation of  Professor Oleas behind her, Elvia started to consider UCLA as a possibility for her top transfer school. "I started doing everything possible to get here." Of course, this meant finding a balance between work, school, and parenting. "The most challenging part of being a parent and student is finding the balance to do it all— and do it right," Elvia confesses. "Between homework, studying for exams paying attention to my daughter... choosing between cooking dinner, studying, laundry and deadlines...these are the daily challenges ALL parenting students face. I firmly believe that challenges can change us for the better." For Elvia, time management is key to her success.  "Planning ahead and time management are my biggest allies,” she states,“I do not choose one thing over the other I just find a superpower to do them all." 
As a Latin American Studies Major and a Mom to the now 13-year-old Zaylie ("She is my motivation"), Elvia continues to work hard here at UCLA. She currently holds two campus jobs, one in the Bruin Resource Center as an Intern for the Students with Dependents office, and one as a Peer Mentor, for CCCP. "As a mentor, I work with underrepresented communities to guide, inform and motivate them to transfer into four-year institutions by giving them support, the resources and guiding with the transfer process." Next year, Elvia will apply for grad school, but she is trying now to make the most of her experience here as a Bruin Superwomen!
Thank you for sharing your story with us Elvia! You're awesome!