When Nevaeh Martinez walks across the graduation stage, she won’t just be celebrating
her Associate of Arts degree in Business Leadership — she’ll be celebrating clarity, confidence, & a future she never imagined just a few years ago.
A graduate of Odessa High School, Nevaeh took a few dual credit classes while in high
school but wasn’t sure what she wanted to pursue after graduation. “I was interested
in real estate,” she said, “but I didn’t know much about business. I didn’t really
know where to start.”
That uncertainty began to shift the day she spoke with an advisor at Odessa College.
After reviewing Nevaeh’s academic background & learning more about her interests,
the advisor suggested a path that might connect the dots: business. “They pointed
out that I already had some dual credit business courses, & they explained how a business
degree could help in so many fields — including real estate,” Nevaeh said.
The more she learned, the more confident she became. “I researched the degree & decided
that the classes could really help me,” she said. “Once I started, I knew I had made
the right choice.”
Since then, Nevaeh has flourished. She completed her associate degree in just a year
& a half — all while working two jobs. Her secret to success? Strong communication
& time management skills, lessons she credits directly to her classes at OC.
“I love it — I have learned how to build a business,” she said. “The most helpful
classes to me have been about communication & time management. That has helped me
in school & in my personal life, and it will definitely be helpful in business. Time
management is so important for me — I’m in school & I work two jobs. I’ve managed
to keep a high GPA through it all.”
With her associate degree complete, Nevaeh isn’t slowing down. She’s already enrolled
in courses toward her Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Leadership and Management
at OC. After that, she plans to pursue her real estate license and begin her career
in the industry she once only dreamed of.
Nevaeh’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when opportunity meets determination
— and when the right guidance comes at just the right time.