Jackson Martinez
Business Management / Gaithersburg, MD
About
What made you decide to enroll at the University of Maryland?
I've always told myself that after graduating Montgomery College the only university I would attend is the University of Maryland because of its prestige and reputation in Maryland. Once I was accepted into the business school and received enough funding to attend, I made my decision to attend UMD.
What major/career path do you plan on pursuing and how did you select that path?
I am currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in business management. I don't know my exact career path, but I know that I want it to be business or leadership related, which is why I chose business management as my major.
Activities I do outside of class or community service/volunteer activities I'm involved with:
The only activities I do after school is work and play soccer. I currently work as a front desk agent, and, to keep myself active, I joined a soccer team where I play twice a week.
Which programs are you enrolled in, and what have you gained from your experience in them thus far?
I am currently enrolled in the Maryland Promise Program. I have gained important knowledge from the program, but one of the most important things I've learned is getting comfortable with being more outspoken.
Our coordinator, Michelle, has encouraged us to get out of our comfort zones and speaking is one of my biggest discomforts so Michelle making me speak out more during events has really helped me.
Aside from academics, what else do you hope to take away from your time at Maryland?
I would like to take away more social experiences from Maryland. Before attending UMD, I was very anti-social and wasn't as comfortable as I would like to be when speaking to others. The social life at UMD and friendliness of all the students and staff has drastically improved on this aspect in my life.
What are your future goals after graduation?
My biggest goal in life is to make enough money to support my family. My family has sacrificed a lot for me to be where I am now, so I would like to repay them in the future, whether it's by getting a corporate job or starting my own business, I want to repay my family's sacrifices.