First But Not Last

Stephanie Martinez, MS3

My grandmother taught herself how to sew

when she was only seven years old.

Who knew handmade dresses on dolls

would help put food on the table?

My grandfather learned to fix cars.

From a young age he made a living.

When he lost both parents at the age of twelve,

he learned life was not very forgiving.

Their paths crossed and they found each other,

They began a family of their own.

But hardships, turmoil, and political unrest,

made it hard for them to reap what they’d sown.

Together, they left their madre tierra,

the land that had filled them with pride;

that gave them their cultura, corazón, y comida,

and ultimately, the strength to set aside

their own goals and visions of a life back home

and make the ultimate sacrifice:

to move across oceans and find a new life,

where their grandchildren’s dreams wouldn’t be compromised.

Being raised by them, I was always reminded

to “seguir luchando” and chase my dreams

despite how theirs, like a dress on a doll,

was weathered and came apart at the seams.

Walking across the stage to don my first white coat,

The moment felt perfectly stitched together.

I couldn’t tell which parts of it were mine and which were theirs,

but I know their sacrifice co-authored this chapter.

It is humbling to hear from the patients I meet today:

“Your family must be so proud of you!”

Little do they know, I’m here because of them,

And my white coat is as much theirs as it is mine, too.

They gave up their home, they pushed me to persevere,

they taught me resilience coursed through our veins.

They helped lift the foundations of home within myself

while the roots of our madre tierra, in me, they remained.

Through all the self-doubt that tore me apart,

they supported and sewed me whole each time.

They are a part of my fabric and a part of this journey,

one that now I get to choose the storyline.

So standing on the shoulders of their sacrifice,

I am the first in my family, but will not be the last.

Their fire lights the torch that will be passed through generations

so my grandkids can also reach places unsurpassed.

About the Author:

A third-year medical student at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM), Stephanie Martinez remains committed to serving her community. In 2015, Ms. Martinez was a first-generation graduate from Florida International University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature. Upon graduating with a Master’s in Public Health in 2019, she earned the Excellence in Civic Engagement Medallion of Distinction for her commitment to community service. As a medical student, she has led initiatives to fight the breast cancer health disparities within her community by helping organize the 10th Annual Mammography Art Initiative Art Show and Auction event. This helped fund over 160 mammograms for the underserved women of South Florida. Ms. Martinez also helps provide medical care to underserved patients alongside faculty at the Student Faculty Collaborative Clinic (SFCC). As the SFCC Education Chair, she leads the Chronic Disease Management project, aimed at providing patients with educational materials on various health conditions. Ms. Martinez plans to continue her active leadership to serve her community the same way it has served her own family. She intends to practice in underserved areas to provide culturally competent care, addressing healthcare access issues in disadvantaged communities.

About the Work:

A poem written as a thank you to the sacrifice my grandparents made so I could be where I am at today, the first in my family to go to college, medical school, and become a doctor.