Kristin N. Martin was nominated by Dr. Angela Wadsworth, Lecturer, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, who said, “As is the case with so many of our returning students, Kristin has to juggle the demands of family as well as school. She is a wife and mother, with a son currently serving in the military in Iraq. Kristin’s life experiences and prior work experiences; combined with her desire for knowledge, willingness to learn, and excellent critical thinking skills make her contributions to classes very valuable. Kristin is well respected by her fellow students. Her willingness to ask questions and provide comments contributes greatly to the overall classroom experience, not just for her, but for her fellow students."

Kristin describes herself as “forty-ish” and a sociology major who expects to graduate this spring. She began her degree in 1981 as a married student, working full-time, raising a son and taking college classes in the evening. In 2004, she returned to school full-time and her determination to graduate increased. She worked on directing her focus so that her studies, her family, the commute from Jacksonville and her volunteer time were managed and organized well.  This kind of directed focus also helped her communication and interpersonal skills in a way she never imagined possible.

Of all the things she’s proudest of, Kristin considers her twenty three year old son to be her greatest achievement. “He lights up my world whenever I hear from him. He is currently serving his second tour of duty with the Marine Corp and is in Iraq, scheduled to return to the United States in March.” Kristin also loves being able to volunteer with Home Health & Hospice because she has always worked full-time and has never had an opportunity to do something like this. She looks forward to bringing this experience with her as she begins to apply to graduate school in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Dr. Diana Pasalka in the Department of Philosophy & Religion has been a particular help to Kristin who says, “I was new to campus, feeling totally out of my element and her support during this time will always be remembered.”  She would also like to thank her husband, Jim Martin for being so supportive; her sister, Karen Sawyer for her encouraging words; Drs. Angela Wadsworth and Stephen McNamee for their assistance with her graduate school applications.

Her advice to others is, “Keep the faith. Dreams do come true with hard work, persistence, resilience and staying focused.” She hopes to attend Graduate school in fall 2006 or begin working full-time again.

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The Seahawk Perch congratulates Kristin Martin as our February 2006 Non-Traditional Student of the Month!