Aileen Martinez

Class of 2025

Degree:

Hometown:

Alexandria, Va.

What is your background and why did you choose to study at Marymount?

I’m a first-generation college student, and I knew I wanted to stay close to where my family lives in Alexandria, Va. It was kind of a no-brainer for me to go to Marymount because I knew it was a Hispanic-Serving Institution where I would be surrounded by other first-generation students. Being around other people who are from a similar background and have experienced similar things was something I was looking for in a college. Campus is only 30 minutes from home, so I was able to visit my family and still be involved in campus life. I got my undergraduate degree in education and I enjoyed my program, so when I had the opportunity to do a master’s, I decided to come back to Marymount.

What has your overall experience been like at Marymount?

I’ve been able to get a great education that’s very specific to me and my interests. My professors were always super supportive of me no matter what was going on, especially in the beginning when I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was able to get guidance from professors and different leaders on campus. I also really love the closeness and the smallness of Marymount.

How do you think Marymount has helped you grow as a teacher?

Right now, I am teaching special education English to seventh and eighth graders in a Fairfax County middle school. I am actively practicing what I am learning in my graduate program every day. There are some days when we learn something and I think, ‘I really want to bring that into my classroom,’ and then I implement it the next week. So the program is helping inform my teaching in real time. Since I am a newer teacher, it’s really helpful to have guidance from my professors who have been teaching special education for years. They give me advice on the best techniques and teaching methods to use, and that has made me a lot more confident in my own classroom.

What are your future goals?

I’d like to get my Ph.D. in education and maybe become a professor and teach college students. For now, I am focusing on being the best teacher I can be in the classroom. In the next few years, I’d like to move up to teaching high school, where I can really help guide students to achieve their educational and personal goals.

What is your advice to new college students?

My biggest piece of advice is to be outgoing and be yourself, especially in those first few weeks when you’re just starting out and getting to know people. Coming into a new school surrounded by so many new people can be intimidating, but if you’re just yourself, you’re going to be able to find your people. And once you find your people, you will have that sense of community that will push you forward and support you in good times and bad. So, I would say just jump in! Find your people, build that community and let it push you forward.