Math was challenge, not roadblock

Ann Elizabeth Martin
Age: 56
Occupation: Director of admission at Ascension Academy

Where did you receive your education?
West Texas State University; Frank Phillips College.

How has your education played a role in your life today?
School was my favorite place to be as a child, and I wanted to be able to contribute to the field of education as an adult.

What was your greatest educational challenge and how did you overcome it?
I'm a language person, not a numbers person, so math was difficult for me. To get through my math requirements, I thought of ways to personalize the material, kind of transform the numbers into characters and think of formulas as relationships between them.

What is the value of your education?
It is invaluable. Education gives us the ultimate freedom because it provides options in life choices. Without it, I would not have had the opportunity to be part of Ascension Academy.

What would you say to someone who's undecided about continuing their education?
I would tell that person to think about the life he wants to be leading 10 years from now. Will leaving school before graduation be a building block toward achieving that life? If the answer is no, move heaven and earth to get that education. There are many resources available to help you make it happen. Find them and utilize them; that's why they are there.

When did you make education a priority?
When it became clear to me that my aptitude and aspirations were leading me to a career as a classroom teacher or administrator. Earning a degree was not optional; it was an essential step toward my future.

What made you realize the importance of education in your life?
I began to appreciate its significance when I began my job search after graduation, and the true implication of it has surfaced repeatedly throughout my career.

Did you ever think about quitting? What made you keep going?
I never thought seriously about quitting before graduation.