Success Stories

Odri Martinez (LSA ‘23) is grateful for the rigorous education she received at the University of Michigan. A graduate of the U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, she double-majored in political science and sociology with a minor in law, justice, and social change.

But the worth of her U-M experience extends far beyond the coursework. “My education not only taught me what I learned in my classes,” she says. “It also taught me how to handle difficulty and higher-level tasks — whether it be in my personal or professional life. It was an invaluable experience that I will never forget.”

During her first year at U-M, Martinez participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) for first- and second-year undergraduate students. The program creates research partnerships between students and U-M researchers and mentors. It requires attendance in biweekly seminars that address comprehensive topics related to all areas of research, including research methods, ethics and integrity, and the research lifecycle.

“The UROP program gave me the unique opportunity to engage in an ongoing research experience supervised by a research sponsor throughout the academic year,” says Martinez. “It also helped me, very early on in my time at Michigan, to push beyond what was in front of me and to learn more about the world.”

Marking Transitions

Born in the Dominican Republic, Martinez spent the first three years of her life with her mother in Santo Domingo. “When I was three, my mom moved to the United States to try to pave the way for us, so I spent the next few years living with my grandmother,” says Martinez. “When I was six, my family immigrated to the United States, settling in Jamaica, a neighborhood in Queens, New York. Then, when I was in my first year of high school, we moved to Melvindale, Michigan.”

Finding a Way

Martinez says her family placed a high value on going to college. “We were not affluent, so scholarships were the pathway to good schools,” she says. “I come from a big family. My parents could not possibly afford sending all of us to college.”

Despite financial challenges, Martinez held on to her dream of going to a good school. And then she discovered the Go Blue Guarantee. “I learned about it when I saw an ad on Instagram featuring one of my high school classmates,” she says. “I remember DMing her to ask her about it. She told me that you don't have to apply for it. It’s awarded after you apply to U-M, if you meet the financial requirements. So I applied with the hope that good things would follow.”

What happened next was something she’ll never forget. “I vividly remember the morning I found out I qualified for the Go Blue Guarantee. I saw the scholarship letter on my portal when I woke up that day,” she says. “My mom was on the phone with my aunt at the time, but I told her about the news immediately. We were all jumping up and down.”

Martinez, a first-generation student, says her life could have taken a very different path had it not been for the Go Blue Guarantee. “I’m one of many who come from low-income families that otherwise wouldn't be able to go to college. We are students who have worked extremely hard for what we desire to achieve,” she says. “The Go Blue Guarantee did the impossible for me. I never thought that I would be able to go to a good school or come out of college without any debt. I was able to do both.”

Building a Foundation

These days, Martinez and her husband Esdras spend their time in Lincoln Park, Michigan with their newborn daughter. Both work as interpreters for Global Interpreting Services, headquartered in Clinton Township. “I help out in hospitals and clinics, interpreting for immigrant families that don't speak English. My job is to make sure that the patient is receiving all of the information accurately so that they can make good decisions about their health care,” says Martinez.

Creating Opportunities for Others

With the passing of time, Martinez has come to appreciate even more the opportunities she’s had in America. “Part of why I chose to study political science, sociology, law, and justice is because I want to become an immigration attorney. I’m studying for the LSAT now and applying to law school,” she says. “Immigrating to the United States gave me and my family the opportunity of a lifetime. Now I would like to help people who are seeking that dream to further themselves, their family, and their children. I want to be able to give back so that others will have the same opportunity.”

Martinez says she is excited to begin a new chapter in her life. “I'm really proud to have graduated from U-M. I am also thankful for the people in my life who've encouraged me. I would never have been able to do this if we’d stayed in the Dominican Republic.”