Wherever the Road Takes Her: Marina Martins (GS’27) on Finding Community

When Marina Martins (GS’27) moved as a teenager from Brazil to Bethesda, Maryland, she thought she was starting over, not preparing for a future at Columbia.

“Growing up in Brazil, I never thought about leaving,” Martins said. “But when I reached 18, right before my birthday, my mom told me she got a job in the U.S.”

Brazil’s university system is highly competitive and requires top scores on the National High School Exam (ENEM), a rigorous process that can include multiple days of specialized testing. After falling short of the score she needed for her preferred major, Martins faced a difficult decision: stay in Brazil and change course, or move to the United States and start a new chapter.

“I failed my first exam because I didn't reach the minimum for my major at the university that I wanted. I had the option to go to a different state, but I didn't want that,” Martins said. “My dad said, ‘if you don't go [to the U.S], you're going to regret it. So that's how I ended up here.”

After arriving, Martins began her college career at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland, while working full-time at Seargin, an international software and engineering solutions company. Balancing school and work helped her develop academic and professional skills right away, and once settled in, her advisors and professors encouraged her to dream beyond state lines.

“I didn't expect to transfer [to Columbia] at all, but my advisor told me that I should apply. It felt like something that was really out of reach at first,” Martins said. “Once I applied and started getting a positive response, I talked a little bit with my parents and asked their opinions, and that's when I came to the conclusion that Columbia would be the best option.”

Martins decided to move to New York City, and this time, she was doing it on her own. While she said the experience of being an immigrant in the U.S. can feel isolating, Martins has found comfort in exploring the city, meeting new people, and embracing unfamiliar experiences.

“At first, the journey of being an immigrant in the U.S. is very lonely. Even though I have my mom here, it is still very lonely,” Martins said. 

Over the past year, Martins said Columbia and New York City have helped her feel more connected.

“Columbia has been fun over the last year. Meeting my friends and going to different events with them, and trying different foods, especially when it’s warm outside, has been really fun,” Martins said. “There are so many opportunities to explore, and even more within academics. I think it’s fantastic that we get to hear from world leaders on a random Wednesday.” 

Recently, Martins joined The History Association and the Tae Kwon Do Club. As she continues to find community in these spaces, she’s also channeling her passion to make connections off campus. 

Building community is something Martins has prioritized long before arriving at Columbia.

In her hometown, Martins was deeply engaged, spending hours visiting and working with children, seniors, immigrants, and people from low-income backgrounds. 

“Since I was a kid, I’ve always been very active and involved in my community. I went to a private school in Brazil, and they had a program where every two weeks we would go to either a low-income school and bring kids gifts, or we would go to senior homes and spend the day with them,” Martins said. “When I moved to the U.S., I volunteered for two years at a donation center. Sometimes I would spend 40 hours volunteering. It’s always something that has brought me a lot of joy.”

Making connections with people from different backgrounds brings Martins immense joy and a feeling of interrelatedness. 

“It’s the idea that I can contribute a little bit to help. I don’t see myself as being a big player in making a change, but I think every small, little step counts,” Martins said. “I absolutely love [working with] kids and going to volunteer at hospitals. I was able to talk to kids with cancer, and be considered a friend.”

Her experiences moving between countries and communities also deepened her interest in history, collective memory, and international relations. Recently, she took a class with Hana Worthen, associate professor of comparative literature and theatre at Barnard College, which broadened her perspective on international relations and how passion within academia has the power to make a global impact in understanding collective memory.

“I had a Barnard professor who was fascinating. I took a class with her that was called Nazism in Performance. We were analyzing World War II through the lens of theater. She’s someone who’s made an impact, to the point that her Ph.D. was in the newspapers,” Martins said. “I really aspire to be like her. Her class made me think outside of the box and understand things from a different perspective. It was mind-blowing. The way she’s able to talk about the topic with so much love and dedication, you can really see how much she loves it, and the impact she’s made.” 

Staying true to her persistent curiosity, Martins is already planning for life after her degree. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and comfortable with German and French, she plans to pursue a master’s in International Relations at Columbia after graduating from GS next year.

“Columbia changed my mind a lot when I came here. Initially my dream career was to go into diplomacy. That’s one of the reasons why I learned French, and now I’ve got a double major with endless possibilities,” Martins said. “All that to say, I’ve been flirting a lot with international trade. I really want to do a master’s and travel the world. I’m not sure yet, but wherever the road takes me.” 

Since starting her Columbia journey, Martins continues to find comfort in exploring the boroughs and making new memories, and she encourages other students to do the same.

“Embrace different things. Meet different people and talk to different communities, and embrace the city as a whole. There’s so much out there to learn, and I’m not just talking about networking,” Martins said. “It sounds a little bit cheesy, but go to places like Times Square, stand in line, do touristy things. Go on adventures. There’s so much that this city has to offer.”