Success — Lives Transformed

Alcides Martinez

I was born in El Salvador, Central America. I come from a family of eight. I am the oldest child and I have five sisters. My parents were farm workers in El Salvador. As children, we all worked as farm workers. I came to the USA in 1986 when I was 21 years old. I started working as a farm worker and in the evening I went to school for ESL. I worked in farm work for seven years at a winery in Los Altos, California. I improved in my English speaking ability over this year by going to CCOC and San Jose Community College. But I wanted to better myself financially by learning a vocational skill.

I heard about CET from people at night schools that I attended. I went through a CET in San Jose and I decided to take their Computerized Accounting Skill. The class was for six months and I received my graduation certificate.

My first interview was at the Mexican American Community Service Agency (MACSA). I applied for an accounting position. I was called for an interview and was offered the position. I started at MACSA four years ago and I am still there. I am earning $20.00 an hour. I live with my father in San Jose. He still works in farm work. One of my sisters lives in San Jose and is married. My mother and four sisters are still in El Salvador. My sisters have worked hard like I did. One is a licenciado, another is a doctor of general medicine, and the other is an attorney. We all send money to support our mother every month. I hope to marry some day and have a family. I plan to go back to college to learn more about Accounting. I want to thank CET for giving me the opportunity to improve myself and to let people know that it can be done. Even if you have a language barrier it can still be done. You need to like yourself as an individual. Never, never give up!

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