Student: Stephanie Martinez

Stephanie Martinez is a graduate student in social work at East Carolina University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from ECU in May.

“I’ve always been interested in mental health and mental illness and the negative stigma that’s associated with it,” she said.

As an undergraduate, Martinez interned with the Lutheran Services Carolinas Assertive Community Treatment Team, an internship that is usually reserved for graduate students, and participated in the Bachelor of Social Work Student Association on campus.

In the BSWSA, she was the volunteer and events coordinator. She coordinated volunteer work at places such as the Ronald McDonald House, Building Hope, a local homeless shelter and helped the organization attend Lucille W. Gorham Intergenerational Community Center Day.

LSC’s ACTT works with people with severe and persistent illnesses such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorder. The team also assists patients with daily tasks like going to the grocery store or doctors’ appointments to maximize quality of life and independence.

While there, she helped create a guide that listed roughly 100 resources for the agency. This now allows the team to find resources for their patients quickly and easily.

Because of her extensive volunteer work and impact in development in the social work field, Martinez was awarded the Lessie L. Bass Community Engagement Award by her mentors and peers at graduation.

“It was completely unexpected,” Martinez said.

Martinez has another internship lined up this fall with Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro, one of three state psychiatric hospitals in North Carolina. She is excited to explore this area of social work, which is new to her, she said.

Along with her internship and graduate school, Martinez plans to pursue two licensures in the upcoming year.

She wishes to get a licensure in substance abuse that will allow her to be a licensed clinical addiction specialist, and LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Work – which will allow her to practice therapy.

Another area Martinez intends to focus on in the future is working with the Latino community on mental health.

“Latino adolescents have the highest rates of suicidal ideation compared to any other gender or ethnic subgroup, so I feel like that needs to be addressed,” she said.

What advice do you have for other students?: Nothing will be handed to you. You need to work for what you want and to get where you need to be. Don’t suffer in silence and if you’re struggling, reach out. The professors at ECU are amazing and are always willing to help. Go to their office hours.

What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year?: I regret not getting involved during my first year. ECU has so many organizations and you’ll meet other students who share the same interests. I’ve met some of my closest friends through the organizations on campus. Don’t limit yourself to the opportunities on campus, branch out and volunteer in the community as well.

STATISTICS

College: College of Health and Human Performance

Major: Social Work

Classification/Year: Graduate – Advanced Standing

Hometown: Chapel Hill

Hobbies/interests: Spending time with friends, walking or running on the greenway, Netflix, reading, trying new restaurants

Clubs and Organizations: National Association of Social Workers, Bachelor of Social Work Student Association, Student Association of Latino-Spanish Affairs, Phi Alpha Honor Society – Chi Zeta Chapter

FAVORITES

Favorite hangout: Sup Dogs

Favorite place on campus: Rivers building

Favorite place to eat: RJ’s Famous BBQ and Christy’s Euro Pub

Favorite class: Psychopathology

Professor who influenced you the most: Janine Jason-Gay, Kathleen Jones and Kevin White

Favorite TV show: “SpongeBob SquarePants” or “Gossip Girl”

Favorite band/musician: ASAP Mob

MOTIVATIONS

Dream job: One that allows me to empower individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness, while also raising awareness on mental health in the community

The one thing you cannot live without: Memes

Role model: My parents and my older sister