EJCA female students started their Women’s month celebration with great speakers and role models.  On March 9th, Catalina Martinez, a strategic member of nationally recognized marine oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard locator of the Titanic. She is an inspirational women’s speaker who overcame many cultural and gender challenges to complete her education, work in a non-traditional field and lead her own life. She is a Latina woman from the Cuban culture who grew up in Providence RI and has traveled a similar journey that many of our young female students are now experiencing. Ms. Martinez shared wonderful family photos that highlightes some of the cultural challenges that she encourged our female students to rise above and reach for their goals. She was able to demonstrate some of the fantastic technolgy that she works with as a marine scientist and educator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as she travels the world working on these large marine research vessels.  Catalina also discussed many career options that our students could and should explore now while their are planning their next steps. She stressed to the female students that “working in an enviroment with all men and being the only woman can present some challenges; however if you put your mind to it no one can stand in your way. You should always stand up for what you believe in”. 

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/oceanage/06martinez/welcome.html