Big Bend Community College s 7662 Chanute Street NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837 s 509.793.2222 s 877.745.1212

September 5, 2006

Hi, my name is Odelia Martinez

I am a student at BBCC and a working mother of four children. Ages of 21, 19, 14, and my baby is 10, my two older kids are also students at BBCC. I have gone back to school at age 41 not something that is easy after all I had been out of school for over 26 years.

I work full time and take care of my family, plus my parents have had to come live with us because of medical reasons. It has not been easy on us. I ended up in the hospital for a week just because of a simple cold that turned into a very severe pneumonia. This almost made me drop out of college because between my job, work, my family, and taking care of my parents who both have heart trouble and are diabetic, I was over whelmed and thought I could not do it all.

However, with the help of my husband, two older kids and most important the instructors at BBCC– who help me so that I would not drop out of college. I must say I did not think that the instructors would even care weather I came back to class or not (just another student). All my instructors -

Mr. Michie – BUS 252, Mrs. Berry-Guerin – OFF 101, Mrs. Geer – BUS 121 and last but not least Mr. Holstine SPH 101. Who worked with me even thought I missed two weeks of classes. They sent work home with my kids for me to work on so, I would not fall further behind. They went beyond their way to help and keep me dropping or failing school.

I would especially like to give Thanks to Mr. Michie who kept encouraging me and telling me, I could still catch-up and get good grades. Mr. Michie, you are a great Instructor and BBCC is very lucky to have instructors like you. I am happy to say my final GPA was 3.12.

Thanks to all the instructors, I have managed to keep my dream – of hopefully graduating with my two older kids Abel and Amy Martinez.

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Thank you,

Odelia Martinez