"Make your dream happen" for me means taking control, accountability and responsibility for your own education.
I think in order for your dreams to happen, it's a lot of hard work.
As your dreams start to come true, they evolve and you work more and have new dreams.
"Making your dream happen" makes it sound like it's something that ends, and I don't think
a good dream ends -- you should be making your dream keep happening.
My journey to Weber State is obviously an interesting one, considering that this is a commuter campus.
I felt like, to some degree, I commuted here across the country.
So, I did three things at Weber State: I think, first, I'm a graduate student.
Secondly, I am an assistant debate coach, and thirdly, I am an adjunct professor.
The 2013 national debate tournament that was held at Weber State University -- my partner
and I won that tournament.
And so, it's kind of like what really kicked off my professional coaching career.
Weber State Debate is awesome.
The tournament that we host for the college community is called "The Mukai," and it's
known as one of the most hospitable tournaments in the country simply because we put our hearts
and souls on the line to make sure that everybody has a welcoming holistic experience with Weber
to truly try to make their dreams happen, even though they're not registered as a student here.
When I moved to the United States in 2011, just right at the beginning of the semester,
I got hacked and all my files on my computer got encrypted, and I kind of got mad at that
and thought, "I don't want to have this experience again."
And so I went and looked for what major would teach me how to defend from those attacks,
and I started in network management technology.
The whole four years were hard for me because I have a family -- my wife, my daughter that
I have to support -- so I was working full time.
Several of my classes, I was basically falling asleep and I was trying to stay up and learn,
and sometimes I just got my phone and recorded the class,
and while I was working, I could listen to the lessons.
I never thought about graduating from college.
None of my family graduated from college.
My dad and my mom, they just got through elementary school.
I'm just so happy to show my family that things can be done if we put the effort to do it.
I'm a first-generation college student.
I'm the first out of my brothers or my father to even graduate high school.
When I was 16, my dad got in a motorcycle accident.
His accident changed my life dramatically.
He was always my role model growing up.
Just, his interests were my interests.
He owned a gym as well, and so that was my dream, is owning a gym.
But after his accident, he had a traumatic brain injury so they had to take out like
a fist-sized portion of his brain, and so he's changed substantially.
And we have to introduce ourselves every time we see him, but I've convinced him my middle
name is "Good-Looking," so when he does remember, my name's Christopher Good-Looking Martinez to him.
Or if he's especially awake that day, it's Christopher Thinks-He's-Good-Looking Martinez.
I wanted to take care of my mom and my dad the way they took care of me,
and in order to do that, I needed to get a degree and find a good job where I can provide for more than
just my small little family with my wife and daughter.
I'm proud of myself for graduating, but at this time, I've already been planning so much
ahead that this just feels like a stepping-stone.
I just want to keep, keep learning.
Well, I graduated from Weber State with my associate's 25 years ago.
I graduated with my RN, my associates, in 1994.
I had been in school for four years, and I was just like, ready to have a family, so
I ended up having a family, and 25 years later, my daughter talked me into going back to school.
Going to school with my mom has been a very unique experience.
I don't think most people get the opportunity to do that.
Most of the time, it's been a blessing.
It's a little interesting to have your mom know all your homework and exactly when it's due.
Instead of general nags, they're very specific nags, like, "Did you do this exact assignment?"
I don't know very many people that love their job as much as my mom does.
She's been a nurse for 25 years and I've only been a nurse for a year, so I think she has really good insight.
When we have discussions in class, it's interesting to hear her talk like a smart nurse instead of just my mom.
Going to school with my mother-in-law and also my wife, it's really encouraging, and
they've been really supportive.
We can rely on one another whenever we need support or anything like that, so it's been good.
And oftentimes, they'll come over for Sunday dinner and we'll study.
I'm grateful for her for making me do this, 'cause I probably wouldn't have, even though
it's something that I wanted to do, without her pushing me and saying, "Let's go!"
This is attainable for anyone.
If I can come back after 25 years and do it, anyone can do it.
And if it's something that you really desire and you want to do, go for it.
I am grateful to Weber State for giving me that nursing degree so that I can be doing something that I love.
Graduating from Weber -- that really makes my dream come true.
That I have a major, that I have school, I have education, that I can teach my kids.
I know that it is the future of my family -- it's going to be a good future.
Nothing can stop you if you want to do something.
Weber State is here, it's close to where I needed to be and it did help me achieve the things I needed to.
Everything was right here.
Weber State has been integral in making my dream happen for me by essentially providing
a space in which I can be myself, pursue the type of education that I deem fit for myself,
as well as encourage other students to join me in that particular journey.
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