Anna Martinez

The math department hosts an event every year during the spring semester called Adventure in Mathematics where many high schools from surrounding areas are able to learn about the university and participate in activities.

I believe that being a part of the campus community is all about promoting education and continuously sharing with others the knowledge we are privileged to have received. This event stands out for me the most because faculty members, staff, and students from different departments come together to serve as an inspiration for kids and to show that receiving a higher education is possible.

One person in particular who has gone above and beyond since day one is our department head, Dr. Wang. One semester before I transferred to A&M-Commerce, I came to tour the university and spoke to him about the math program. After that day, he kept in touch through email. He made sure I had all the important information about the program and financial support; his office door was always open for me to walk in and ask any questions; he took the time to ask me what was going on with my academics; he always asked me about my plan for the upcoming semester, and he made sure I was a step ahead in preparing for the future.

I truly feel blessed to be a part of such an amazing group of professionals who care for their students' successes and make sure we are aware of our opportunities.

I am a first-generation college student and receiving a higher education was not easy, but it also was not impossible. I was and am still blessed to have influential teachers throughout my education who saw my potential and always pushed me to dream big and work hard for what I wanted.

I am grateful because, without my family's support, I would not be here. They could not support me financially, but they were always there right next to me, encouraging me to keep moving forward.

Since high school, getting involved with organizations and staying active with my community opened many doors with people who shared their experiences and provided helpful information toward moving forward with my education.[…] knowing that some people out there also believe in me through scholarship support gives me strength to work hard every day to not let anyone down.