Tisha Lea Martin

I grew up all over Central Arkansas and was raised in a single-parent household that struggled to make ends meet. My mother worked two jobs and did her best, but so often we went without. I've faced the same struggles that many Arkansans face every single day, and witnessed firsthand how poverty, coupled with addiction, can tear a family apart and lead to legal issues. To avoid going down the wrong path, I enlisted in the military at the age of seventeen and continue to serve to this day. During my first enlistment, I was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, as a Combat Medic. It was in this capacity that I truly learned how to work under extreme pressure and developed a greater appreciation for all that I have in life. After Iraq, I wanted to get back to “normal” and focus on my education. By December of 2011, I graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, emphasis in Criminology, and a minor in Addiction Studies. After college, I worked in social services with the Arkansas Dept. of Human Services for a few years. I felt unfulfilled in that position and knew that I could be doing more. It was at that point I decided to apply for law school. I credit what success I have had in life to my upbringing and family. And, by far, my greatest accomplishment is being a mother and wife. My family is my bedrock and the foundation that supports all that I do. I am truly blessed beyond measure.