Every fall, we invite our seniors to draft their personal statements, cover letters, or college essays, which typically focus on challenges students have overcome and lessons they have learned. For Lakes senior Hadasa Martinez, finding a topic posed little difficulty.
Martinez's journey from Guatemala to the United States at the age of 7 is nothing short of inspiring. Her first few years in elementary school were particularly hard. She remembers being bullied and not being able to understand her teachers. Over time, she became more comfortable in her new school.
“I remember my third grade teacher really helped me with translating everything into Spanish. She was really helpful,” Martinez said. “It was probably around seventh grade that I really started focusing on improving myself and reading more.”
After attending middle school in Waukegan, her family relocated and she began her freshman year at Lakes. As she progressed through each grade, she began to thrive academically. Emily Tednes, Hadasa’s English Language teacher, witnessed her growth firsthand. “I was fortunate enough to have Hadasa in my English class her sophomore and junior year. [She] grew into an incredible student over these two years. She became more confident in her work, and she didn't hesitate to ask for help when needed,” Tednes said. “She also became more participatory [in] class discussions.”
“Mrs. Tednes has been really helpful for me,” Martinez said. “She would always explain things in a simple way I could understand. She would always meet with me and check in. I actually had a meeting today with her.”
After thriving in Tednes's class, Martinez set her sights a bit higher and was eager to explore the AP curriculum. Her choice was Dave Auston's AP Environmental Science class. The class was a perfect fit for her as students are pushed to develop a broader understand of the world around them.
"I wanted to get out of my comfort zone," she said. Perspectives like Hadasa’s are crucial for students to build a broader understanding of the world around them. Auston remembers a particular class discussion about the water cycle.
"She talked about coming from a country where not everyone has access to a clean water supply and sanitation," says Auston. “It was pretty eye opening.”
Her schedule for her senior year includes several firsts. In addition to her first AP class, she has also chosen to take Choir for the first time. “I always loved to sing when I was a little girl, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” She is preparing for her first concert in October. “Oh, I am also taking German for the first time,” she laughed.
After this year, she plans to attend College of Lake County and eventually pursue a degree in business. “Mrs. Revis has also been really helpful talking to me about college,” Martinez said.
She attributes the success she has had on her journey to her mom. “She has always been with me right by my side. It doesn’t matter if I did something wrong [in school]. She would always be there supporting me because she really wants to see me succeed. She did not have the same opportunities as me, and she wants to see me be the first generation to go to college.”
As she enters her senior year, Hadasa’s story will inspire others to embrace challenges and get comfortable outside of their comfort zone. When discussing the guidance she would provide to younger students in their quest to find their own path, Hadasa had this to share: “No matter how many obstacles we face or what we are going to face in life, we always need to maintain a resilient mindset and push through to succeed.”