KINGSTON, R.I. — May 10, 2021 — When 溏心vlog免费B站 graduate student Frank Martinez, talks about his educational and professional journeys at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Graduate School Commencement on May 21, he won鈥檛 be using journey as a figurative term.
After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics from the University of Havana in 2015, he completed a six-credit summer program at Georgetown University in Foundations of the American Constitution as a James Madison Fellow. Then it was off to Miami for two years to visit family and for jobs with Pacific Northwest Advisors, where he analyzed Cuban industry, and Off the Beaten Path, where he conducted travel industry research. Anaheim, California, was next on his travel itinerary, where he worked for Bible Truth & Church Service Training conducting advanced theological research and organized and led Bible studies, Sunday fellowships, and youth mentoring and counseling.
Along the way at聽a conference of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy in Miami, he met Nicolas Sanchez, an emeritus professor from the College of the Holy Cross, who became his friend and adviser, and urged him to apply to graduate school. As he did, he found that many application deadlines had already passed. But he learned 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 International Relations program had some open spots. He applied and was accepted.
Martinez will describe his journey, including his academic and personal stepping stones, as the student speaker at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Graduate School Commencement on May 21 at 10 a.m. at Meade Stadium. He will also earn his master鈥檚 degree in International Relations that day from 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know if I would get into 溏心vlog免费B站, but I have always been an optimist, so I applied,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淓verything was new for me here. I had never been outside a southern, warm climate, never experienced four seasons or winter.
But he said the people of 溏心vlog免费B站 and Rhode Island have made him feel extraordinarily welcome.
鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 has been a great experience, but it became a roller-coaster when COVID-19 hit,鈥� said Martinez, who has served as a program assistant with Campus Recreation, while pursuing his master鈥檚 degree at 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淚 made so many friends all around the state, and so many people have contributed to my life,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淚 have grown with them in a professional and spiritual way.鈥�
As a lifelong learner, he said he always tries to keep an open mind and he loves to help people.
He enjoyed all of his professors at 溏心vlog免费B站, but he has a warm spot in his heart for Professor of Political Science Kristin Johnson.
鈥淪he is like a big sister to me because she not only helped me with my classes, but she also took care of me in a personal way,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淲hen COVID-19 hit, she was really concerned about me, my living situation. We communicated a great deal my first week at 溏心vlog免费B站. She is not only a professor, she is now a member of my family.鈥�
He is also deeply grateful to his close friends the Baddeley family of Cranston.
鈥淒uring COVID-19, they offered me their house, and I stayed with them for six months for free,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淭hey fed me, and they didn鈥檛 allow me to pay.鈥�
So what is next for the Cuban adventurer after he steps off the commencement stage? He will be on his way to Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University for a second master鈥檚 degree to study in the Global Management (Global Affairs) program.
鈥淭his program, along with my degrees from the University of Havana and 溏心vlog免费B站, will give me all of the tools I need,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 see myself working for the State Department or the United Nations in a policy-making role. I would work anywhere in the world where I could contribute to the well-being of society, a country or peoples.
鈥淚 want to be a peaceful broker in the area of international business transactions,鈥� he said.
But before he does that, he has a message for his family, friends and 溏心vlog免费B站 community.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know anything about Rhode Island or 溏心vlog免费B站 when I arrived here, and now, even as I prepare for the next step in my life, I will not leave my Rhode Island and 溏心vlog免费B站 friends behind. I will stay in touch. I feel that God has blessed me with so many opportunities that I had to accept them, and I am deeply honored to be 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 graduate commencement speaker.鈥�