From Circus to Scholarship: José Morales-Martinez Inspires Students with ‘Yes We Can’ Mantra

Remembering the Mantra of ‘Yes We Can’

For those of you who have had the pleasure of meeting José Morales-Martinez, you would know that he vibrantly wears multiple hats and fills several roles at Berea High School, including those of a student advocate and site coordinator for Communities In Schools. To his students, he often plays the role of a social worker, a college advisor, a father, friend, coach, teacher, and mentor. Deeply rooted in his personal and professional life is the mantra “Sí se puede”, Spanish for “Yes, we can. Yes, you can. Yes, it is possible.”

Most of his students are either fresh immigrants or aren’t acquainted with anyone accomplished. They lack the contacts who’ve been successful, who’ve gone to college, and Morales-Martinez doesn’t just sees this as an opportunity but also a gift. “I’ve been gifted the opportunity to be that role model,” he shared.

A Humble Beginning

Born and raised in Mexico City, Morales-Martinez had an adventurous yet challenging early childhood, owing to a life in a traveling circus, ignited by his father’s role as an animal tamer, acrobat, and clown, and his mother’s consistent caregiving. The family relocated to Greenville when he was around four years old, a transition that was far from affluent.

Struggles were aplenty, especially financial ones. Living on the edge of bare minimum, he shared one incident where he offered his bed to his brother when it broke, and his parents couldn’t afford to buy a new one. “Fear”, marked their days due to a looming dread of police and immigration agents.

Despite the hardships, Morales-Martinez and his family always upheld community support and solidarity. His mother, in particular, encouraged him to assist others who faced language barriers, instilling in him a deep sense of community and empathy.

Making a Difference

This sense of community and helpful attitude reflects significantly in Morales-Martinez’s roles. Besides being a student advocate, he is also an advisor to the Hispanic Alliance’s Student DREAMers Alliance, a youth leadership development program aimed at carving out Hispanic leaders from high school juniors and seniors. Bouncing ideas off these driven talents inspires Morales-Martinez greatly as he sees his reflection in their eyes and ambitions.

Just like them, during his journey, he met people who saw the potential in him beyond his circumstances. They shaped his life by providing opportunities and guidance. One such opportunity was to attend a summer residency program at Furman University through the initiative, Bridges to a Brighter Future.

Overcoming the Odds

However, this desire for education was encased by a black cloud of undocumented status. This changed with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an executive action from Barack Obama, which lifted the threat of deportation for young undocumented immigrants.

With his temporary legal status from DACA, he could apply and earn a full-ride scholarship to Furman University, making him a first-generation college graduate. These experiences have only made his mantra, “Yes, you can,” much stronger. His message to all his students is simple: you are capable of achieving, of succeeding, regardless of how and where you came from.

His story, his work, his mantra are all testimonials of a life relentlessly striving to achieve more, ceaselessly embodying his motto, “Sí se puede”. His endeavors are an inspiration to all his students and the community, encouraging all to look past the fences that surround them and aim for the horizons beyond.

‘Yes, you can’ indeed.