Eduardo Martinez is a 19 year old who moved from Nicaragua by himself in March of 2007. Martinez came to the US to achieve his long time dream to have a good education and to obtain a PhD or Masters degree.

“I wanted to pursue my dream of obtaining a bachelors degree and going to higher education in universities, said Martinez. Eduardo was born in the Bay Area and moved back and forth to Nicaragua until the age of eight when his family settled in Nicaragua. In his childhood he saw the struggles of his mother. “During those ten years I been in Nicaragua, I seen how she had to work really hard,” said Martinez. “She decided to move back to Nicaragua just for us to be together. When she was here (in the United States ) she was working too much and we barely got to see her,” he added.

Martinez ’s mother Claudia Martinez became his inspiration and motivation to overcome obstacles and struggles because like many students Martinez faced money problems. “I really wanted to quit last month,” said Martinez. “I’m struggling too much because I’m in debt and I felt I couldn’t make it. I miss of course my mom, my brother, my friends and I felt here I wasn’t going anywhere.”

With his stress because of debt he began to remember his mother and his dreams. He remembered about the struggles his mother faced and motivated himself to look forward. “I grabbed strength from the struggles of all people,” Martinez said. “I would see how they did it and I would just ask myself why can’t I do it if the only thing I’m sacrificing is time with my mom. The debt it’s something normal because it will go away once I work more.”

Martinez looked forward and not back because his dreams are more important than his obstacles. With his mother and family in his thoughts he will be motivated to be an achiever and to be successful in the real world.