Mónica Martínez ’23

Other clubs, sports and activities you’d like to mention: 
LASO, Smith’s Student Teaching Program, Spanish Tutor, Campus Center Café Manager 

Describe your major and/or minor in five words or fewer.
1. Eye-opening 
2. Important 
3. Creative 
4. Personal 
5. Impactful 

What's one thing that has surprised you most about your major? 
One of the things that surprised me the most was how much reflecting we have to do! I have had to reflect on how I reflect, which is a helpful and important skill, but it’s so much reflection! 

Did you ever have trouble deciding on a major? What, ultimately, helped you decide? 
I knew coming into Smith that I wanted to be a teacher, so majoring in education was always the plan. I remember taking EDC 235 my first semester, and instantly I knew that I wanted to stay in education and pursue being a teacher. What became more troublesome was what subject I would teach. I had worked with elementary students for years and I loved it, but I saw myself being with high school students in the end. 

What’s a bit crazy looking back was my desire to become a chemistry teacher, but that was not for me. I took a class in everything during my second and third semesters, including my first Spanish class. When I finally had to make a decision, I felt like becoming a Spanish teacher was the perfect fit. It was the ideal combination for me and combined two parts of myself that I loved. 

Describe one moment with a classmate that particularly sticks out to you. 
There is one moment I will never forget, and that is when I was having a conversation with a friend from one of my education classes, and the topic of race in education came up. We talked about the low statistics of how many educators of color there are, and we were not surprised, but found deep within ourselves a desire to change that in the future. I told my classmate that I had never had a teacher that looked like me. The power behind that statement sent us both into a deeper conversation about why education is so important and influential. Looking back now, I came out of that conversation wanting students that look like me, with gorgeous brown skin and black hair, to say they have had a teacher that looks like them, too.

I want students that look like me, with gorgeous brown skin and black hair, to say they have had a teacher that looks like them, too.

Was there a time when another student or professor was particularly generous? How did that affect your Smith experience? 
One person that comes to mind was a professor I had last semester. This was for my individual differences among learners' class. Not only was this professor very accommodating and understanding that some topics were very difficult to talk about, they did it in a way that made me feel safe. 

I remember writing one of the most emotionally difficult papers for this class about a negative experience during my education career. It was so difficult to write and painful to recall and put on paper, but I was so proud of it afterward because what we had written pushed me to face those difficult moments and it made me stronger. 

I always felt safe and seen in this class, which changed my whole Smith experience, because not only did I learn valuable strategies, I learned what it meant to be seen. 

What do you wish other people knew about the class of 2023? 
I wish everyone knew how resilient the class of 2023 is! We are a very powerful class with some of the most brilliant people I have ever met. There has not been a challenge we have not been able to address, and that is an accomplishment in itself. I always say to myself, if we can have our first two years of college taken from us due to a global pandemic and still persevere and come back stronger than ever from it, then we can do anything. 

If you could tell an incoming first-year anything about Smith, what would it be? 
Do not be afraid to take a class on something you don’t know anything about. This is a time for growth and figuring out who we are and who we hope to become, so take those chances and try new things. Look at me! I came in with a clear plan that didn’t work out fully, but it made me realize what I truly wanted to do, and now I’m pursuing my dreams and I am much stronger because of it. 

The class changed my whole Smith experience, because not only did I learn valuable strategies, I learned what it meant to be seen. 

What do you think has been the most “Smithie” thing you’ve done in life so far? 
The most Smithie thing I have done is go to the President’s House every year to get my Mountain Day t-shirt, apple cider, and donut. It’s been a tradition to always get breakfast with friends and spend the day doing something fun. 

What’s your “Big Dream” for your future? How would you like to use your Smith knowledge to change the world? 
My biggest dream right now is to have my classroom post-graduation and be able to do what I love: teach students my favorite language. An even bigger dream is to become one of the teachers that teach teachers how to teach, but that is far later in my career. 

For now, I want to find a school where I fit in and where I feel welcomed, and Smith has given me the tools to be able to achieve this. I hope to further the education that I’ve gained and change the education system—even if it is one student at a time.