Paula Martinez is a born and raised Taoseña. She is very proud to have roots over five generations in Taos. Paula is a wife, a mother, an educator, and a healer. She started working with children in 2005 as she attended college and was introduced to Non-Violent Works. Paula remembers mentoring young girls in middle and junior high school. From there, she started a girl's group and began counseling at-risk youth in the community. Paula shared that her connection with her own experience as a youth guided her to give back to her community.

Paula remembers being athletic, outgoing, and a daredevil but coming from a broken home. Paula's parents divorced when she was only seven, and she was living in the projects. She felt like she was an at-risk youth because of the poverty she experienced, which also caused her to rebel because of the lack of mentors. Paula didn't think education was that important and graduated high school by the skin of her teeth. She did not have any mentors other than her grandmothers and her aunt. Paula's mom found it hard for her to take care of her three children as a single mom, divorced and on welfare, just trying to live. As the oldest, Paula took it upon herself to be the father and mother figure.

Paula needed direction. She did have a great support system with her grandparents. But she just felt broken. So, at first, she didn't go to college. However, in 1992 Paula's grandfather, who was very influential in her life, passed away. His death reminded her about the times she would chop wood with her grandfather and him teaching her other life skills, reminding her never to depend on a man and to get an education. Paula was then inspired to go to cosmetology school. She would finish in two years but continued. Paula would go on to experience more loss and decided to keep going. In 2005, Paula started college at UNM, graduated in 2008 with an associate's degree in applied science, double majored in Holistic Health, and received her healing certificate as a first-generation graduate. During this time, Paula was also introduced to Non-Violence works and worked for them for many years. During this time, she was also working on her bachelor's degree. For Paula, going to college was a big deal. She never believed that she could accomplish anything. She then became an educational assistant at Chrysalis. While working with young women and children, she started teaching yoga and mindfulness and built a rapport and a relationship. She stayed there for them. She built wonderful relationships with all her students, with whom she still has relationships today. Some have children of their own. Paula also had different opportunities to work with kids the in the schools and build a positive reputation.

When Paula became a mentor, she wanted to give back and offer other young girls what she did not have growing up. Paula states that whether you're experiencing domestic violence, drug addiction, whether you're experiencing homelessness, or whatever you may be experiencing, Paula says never to give up. Someone is out there. You must have hope and stay hopeful. Your prayers will be answered, not right away. But they will be answered. Different from the way you expect them to be answered. And maybe not by people that you expect. Accept yourself for who you are, flaws and all. Everything will work itself out. It makes you who you are, and it strengthens you. It gives you purpose, and life is a gift, not materialistic things. Life itself is the ultimate gift. And when you finally figure that out, you will enjoy your life to the fullest because no money will ever amount to life itself. After all, life is a priceless gift.

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