Imagine getting into college by the skin of your teeth, throwing yourself into all the extracurricular activities available to you at university, switching majors three times until you find the right fit, going abroad (and traveling out of state) for the first time in your life, and then becoming a young leader in your hometown community developing opportunities for people to grow and succeed. 

 

Now imagine you’re 24 years old, and you’re only just getting started!! 

 

Today I’m chatting with the incredible Jerry Martinez, a first-generation college graduate of WSU (Class of ‘20) and youngest son of two immigrant farmworkers from El Salvador. 

 

Jerry is sharing about his journey through university, including how he barely got into WSU, why he switched majors before finding the best fit, the importance of getting involved in extracurricular activities at university, why every experience you have is relevant for your career, and how he ended up back in his home town as the Executive Director for the Downtown Pasco Development Authority.

 

This is a story of determination, hard work,  a little luck, and a lot of open-mindedness –and you definitely don’t want to miss it! 

 

Not only will you hear about Jerry’s unique experience, but he’s also giving sage advice for graduating high schoolers, newly minted Freshman Cougs, and recent college graduates on the importance of creating your own version of success and supporting your local community. 

 

So hit that play button, and let’s go!!

Leave a 5 star review on iTunes or Spotify!

 

What we discussed:

[00:55] The power of community

[1:48] Why his parents immigrated to the Tri-cities area

[4:05] How he ended up at WSU last minute after an unusual application process

[5:57] What the WSU Camp Program is, and how it helps migrant families get into higher education

[6:47] Switching majors until he found one that worked for him

[9:40] Why reaching out and asking questions can help you find support faster

[11:04] How to get involved in extracurricular activities at WSU

[12:00] The pros of attending WSU’s CACHE conference for high school students

[14:07] Getting involved in leadership development outside of the classroom

[15:44] The benefits of going to university in the middle of nowhere

[16:29] What the First Generation Abroad Program is, and how he got involved

[20:06] The benefits of studying abroad and being in a different culture

[22:25] What it meant becoming a first-generation college graduate

[25:32] Jerry’s post-college career trajectory during the aftermath of COVID

[28:00] Why everything you do and are involved in is relevant experience

[32:30] How to support your local community

 

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrymartinezwsu/

 

Find out more about our community via the CougsFirst! website: 

https://www.cougsfirst.org/ 

 

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