I am Woman- Aeriel Martinez

Aeriel gracefully settles into her seat at our small round table, momentarily stepping away from her preparations for the upcoming academic year. In her fourth year of teaching she will be teaching first grade this year. She has just finished placing lids on activity bins and carefully arranging her student’s tiny chairs. As she gently blinks with her gorgeous eyes, a palpable sense of engagement and attentiveness surrounds her. Her presence presents extreme kindness and a genuine willingness to listen, speak, and share.

With poised humility, Aeriel expresses her deep appreciation for patience and the art of being fully present in each fleeting moment. She is eager to delve into this theme that she lives by—wisdom gleaned from her early experiences that now shapes both her personal life and her professional approach to teaching.

Aeriel is I am Woman, and this is her story…

“I’m prepared to give you my full attention. I want to be intentional.” -Aeriel

Aeriel embodies intentionality in every thought, action, and opinion. Even when discussing her favorite flower, she notes, “My favorite flowers are roses, but carnations last forever so I prefer longevity.” As a lover of the color red, reading, shopping, working out, and spending time with her family—especially enjoying Tuesday movie nights with her fiancé—Aeriel approaches each day with thoughtful deliberation. She also shows immense care for her older sister, who has a disability, highlighting her gentle and nurturing nature. Aeriel is deeply engaged with the people she interacts with, giving her full attention to whoever or whatever is before her.

In a relatively short time, Aeriel has learned the value of savoring each moment, understanding that these moments collectively shape a meaningful life. She begins,

“On a day to day basis, I think now as an adult-especially, PATIENCE has been the one thing I strive to pay attention to. Everyday I try, even though I’m not perfect at it. Showing patience with life circumstances, others, and myself.” 

Aeriel acknowledges that life can be overwhelming at times, and she understands the feeling of being stretched thin by pressing responsibilities. As she drives to work each morning, she notices the tension and hurry in others. “But for what?” she asks.

Focusing more on the joy that surrounds simple existence Aeriel teaches,

“Why be so stressed and overwhelmed by something that’s always going to be there? I think it takes away from enjoying your day to day. If you don’t have patience, if you don’t have that time to really see what’s happening in the present, you don’t get to enjoy what’s going on around you. And there is so much to enjoy.”

Aeriel reflects on a profound past experience that captured her heart and held her in stillness as she recognized the fragility of life and how quickly everything can be taken away.

At the time, Aeriel had been dating her fiancé, Kobe, for three years. She was on the cusp of completing college and her life seemed to be progressing smoothly. Energized and optimistic about the future, she felt things were going well.

One morning, after a brief conversation amidst the hustle of daily routine, Kobe told Aeriel goodbye and left for work. Tragically, moments later he was involved in a severe car accident that crushed the front of his vehicle, mangling his legs and trapping him inside. Aeriel was left in a state of shock as her world came to a halt. The unanswered questions, the “whys,” and the haunting “what ifs” swirled around her. Her fiancé spent months in the hospital, and Aeriel stood by his side, supporting him through his lengthy recovery.

With a serious yet eager expression, Aeriel explains,

“At any given moment, things can be taken from you. Everything can be stripped away so quickly. I now remind myself, ‘Aeriel, slow down. Be patient with life.’”

Aeriel has explored a range of emotions that have shaped her intentions toward life. She has learned to cooperate with the natural flow of events, practicing patience throughout life’s processes. She has come to appreciate how seemingly mundane activities—like driving to work or making a cup of coffee—carry a deeper significance. In these small moments, she recognizes the essence of existence, aware that there are no guarantees for tomorrow.

“The accident was my pivotal awakening, and has continued to shape who I am. It has all been so humbling and has made me realize how important it is to slow down. Enjoy it – whatever is in front of us at that moment. Enjoy every day. Don’t let disappointments or frustrations take away what you love about your life, and what you love about that day to day experience. Kobe and I recognize this together and remind each other to slow down, everything is ok.”

Aeriel explains that when she invests intentional energy into the things that matter most to her, these pursuits also replenish her energy and optimism for life. She consciously avoids situations that don’t merit her time and attention, choosing instead to dedicate herself fully to what is truly important to her.

“If it’s not something that truly needs your attention, then don’t give it your attention. Instead, focus on what you love, which for me, encompasses many areas of my life—family, relationships, and my job. I give my full attention to these things because it benefits me and has a positive impact on my well-being. I’ve learned that nurturing these relationships also profoundly affect me.”

She continues,

“I can’t please everyone, and I can’t be everything for everyone. So, I must focus my energy on what truly matters to me. There are many small things that can drain and diminish me, and I again have to remind myself of patience with where I am. I remember that I don’t owe anyone anything; instead, I choose where to place my energy. Some things don’t directly affect me, and I have to recognize when to let them go and move forward with what’s important. I avoid giving or receiving negative energy, so I walk away from situations when I need to.”

Aeriel’s commitment to what truly matters is evident in her absolute love of learning and her passion for teaching. She always wanted to work with children, delighting in their smiles and laughter. Naturally generous with her time, energy, and resources- she has been humbled to notice she also receives in return what she gives.

Raised to be bold in self-expression while also being thoughtful and considerate, Aeriel strives to ensure everyone around her feels seen and heard. In addition to her deep commitment to others, Aeriel recognizes the crucial importance of making time for herself, ensuring that she can continue to give wholeheartedly.

“Prioritizing yourself and being patient with yourself can be challenging. I make a conscious effort to take time alone to decompress—whether that means going for a walk, going to the gym, or reading something mindless. During this time, I avoid talking to anyone. Even my fiancé understands that after work, he might not hear from me for an hour or two, allowing me to reset. I’ve learned that taking this time for myself is essential before I can care for others. Alone time is my favorite because I can simply be in my own presence without needing to entertain or please anyone else. I listen to my own needs, and if I’m not in the mood for something, I take a step back to decompress and try again the next day.”

Fostering these habits has allowed Aeriel to be her best self for those she cares about, helping her feel more energized each morning and motivated for the day’s responsibilities.

As a source of inspiration and stability for many, Aeriel talks about her own mentors and how they shift depending on her current goals. Instead of merely admiring someone from a distance, she seeks an interactive relationship with those she learns from. She strives to understand why she is drawn to a particular mentor, what she aims to gain from them, and what she wants them to recognize in her. Her mentors have included college professors with expertise in her field, and coworkers with whom she has worked closely.

“I look up to people who inspire me and who I feel understand me. Inspiration is mutual for me—I feel inspired when I sense that someone is also drawing energy from me as I share my perceptions and ideas. This mutual exchange intrigues me, and I want to know more. It comes with practice, but I like understanding why I aspire to be like someone. I’ve learned that I look up to people because they give me this same energy, teach me their ways, and invite me into their space allowing inspiration to happen.“

Aeriel is lionhearted in creating her own success. When she was still in college she became a representative for the College of Education through Weber State University, in which she offered her opinions and learnings through interviews, and was spotlighted on local billboards. Her success began to rapidly expand when she realized she was allowing people to really see her passion and the love for what she does. Aeriel explains, “I want people to feel seen around me and heard. This is how I move… I want to show others it’s powerful to have a voice and help them feel the same confidence by sharing mine.“

“I took every leap of faith, every opportunity. It all came back full circle and blessed me in so many ways.”