From Tupperware Sales to Global Impact: Fatima Martinez's Journey of Helping Others Succeed

GlobalMindED actively invests in the growth and success of students. Offering internship programs is a key part of this commitment, both internships at GlobalMindED and with partner organizations and companies. Internships provide students with valuable real-world experience that complements classroom learning; students develop professional skills, explore career paths, and build a personal and career network.?This year, GlobalMindED partnered with the Ronald Reagan Institute as they sponsored 35+ students to intern in D.C. this summer.?Some of the students had virtual internships while they met and were exposed to policy makers and leaders on both sides of the political aisle.?They learned to unify, uplift and inspire as leaders in addition to the business skills and know-how that comes with an internship. These are core values of GlobalMindEDand the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute .?

Meet Fatima Martinez Gallegos , the 2024 GlobalMindED Newsletter Intern, who assisted our News Editor, Yusura Ali and the team as a whole throughout our summer cycle.

What is your personal/professional story?

I was born and raised in Calvillo, Aguascalientes, Mexico, where the trees of guavas are plentiful and the fragrance of greenery and flowers fills the air. Growing up, I was mainly raised by my wonderful mother, Imelda, who cared for me and my two younger siblings while my father worked and lived in the U.S. to provide us with a better life. Money was often tight, but my mother always found a way to make ends meet by having all kinds of side hustles. Some of which included selling Tupperware , home interiors, and makeup from the Mary Kay Cosmetics brand.

I often helped my mother with her side hustles. My core memory goes back to the day my mom sent me out to sell Tupperware around my neighborhood. I was dressed in my school uniform. Which consisted of a white polo shirt with the public school logo, a hip-pleated skirt with tiny black and white squares, and knee-length navy blue socks with worn-out black school shoes. In my hands, I was carrying a large trash-sized bag with about 20 different items I was expected to sell in order to help my mother sustain our family. I knew that even by selling all of the items, I would not be able to make enough money to help my family. I came up with an idea! Rather than selling items for their respective price, I decided to make a raffle and made twice the amount of money that my mother expected me to make. This was the day that I discovered my passion for business, and it was also the day that I decided that I wanted to pursue higher education.

Can you share a turning point in your life that sparked your interest in helping others succeed?

Upon my birth, the spark of altruism was born within my heart. Or maybe it developed throughout my lifetime as I saw starving children on the streets of my birthland, curled beside their mothers with ripped clothes and a lack of purpose. There are many reasons why I have always enjoyed helping others succeed, but I think the main reason is because I myself know the struggle of feeling lost and purposeless. I specifically recall the day that my second-grade teacher kept me in class during lunch as a punishment for not being able to solve a division problem. My palms were sweating and my stomach was rumbling. In that moment, I knew that I hated math, or at least that's what I thought. My world felt blurred. All that I wanted was for my mom to come and save me from my second-grade professor who made me feel like I was nothing but a failure. I learned two lessons that day: the power of words and punishments, and the importance of helping others--especially those who are placed in vulnerable situations.

What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?

I grew up in the Catholic church and have always considered myself to be a fairly devoted woman. Therefore, it would be wrong for me to say that I have done it all by myself. In fact, my answer to this question will be very vague, and the reason for that is because I have felt God’s presence in every moment of my life. In other words, what I’m trying to say is that every day of my life has taught me something new that has helped me arrive to where I am today.?

Where does your passion to serve come from?

My passion to serve comes from the desire to create a better world. A place where people can support one another and have the ability to live a comfortable life. I have put a lot of effort in order to create a prosperous life with endless opportunities. However, without all of the kind people who have given me a hand and lent me an opportunity, such as the wonderful team from the GlobalMindED organization, I would not have been able to say that I am living the American dream.

How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?

Success can take up its own shape based on different contexts. Sometimes it looks like a fully crossed-off schedule on a Wednesday evening, and other times it can look like a restful morning surrounded by the people I love. Regardless of the context, success will always come if effort is placed. As of now, I will find myself feeling successful if I am able to find a balance between my personal life and my life as a student. This, I know, will take a great deal of effort on my part, as I know that it will require me to master time management skills. However, I am willing to take the leap, as GlobalMindED has already connected me with a source of support who has coached me and equipped me with the proper tools to achieve my next form of success.

Write about your time as an intern at GlobalMindED. What have you learned? What would you like to share with other students?

Being an intern for GlobalMindED was a beautiful and meaningful experience because I was able to create opportunities for many first-generation students alike myself. It was especially rewarding to see the success of the 2024 GlobalMindED conference, as I myself witnessed the rigorous work and care that everyone on the team contributed. Now that my internship is approaching its end, it is very rewarding to say that, while improving my writing, communication, and time management skills, I was also able to create opportunities for many first-generation students from all across the country. Therefore, today I thank GlobalMindED for giving me the honor of interning with them, but also for allowing me to help expand their legacy, which I hope lasts for many centuries to come.

GlobalMindED Conference 2024

Thank you to all of the students, partners, sponsors, speakers and attendees who made our 10 Year Anniversary conference such a success!

More than 300 students from over 60 community colleges and universities were able to learn from 400 speakers, hundreds of attendees, and each other. Please see photos from the Inclusive Leader Awards dinner, First Gen Leadership Program, main stage sessions and breakouts.

Join us in 2025 June 16-18 at the Sheraton Downtown Denver.