Breaking the cycle of family addiction and incarceration

Nevaeh Martinez awarded ‘Student of the Year’ and a scholarship, following the example of her mother, Griselda, and stepfather, Cheech Raygoza

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Nineteen-year-old Nevaeh Martinez is a recent graduate of Allan Hancock College and was awarded “Student of the Year” award and a scholarship for her accomplishments. She is now off to a new future at San Diego State University on her way to acquiring a degree in criminal justice. Nevaeh is the stepdaughter of Arturo (Cheech) Raygoza and daughter of Griselda and Richard Martinez. Her family dynamic has experienced the consequences of the alcohol and drug addiction crisis and has emerged, not only from
the trauma, but has triumphed, breaking the cycle of addiction and incarceration that plagues our society today.
Like so many of our youth who have grown up in dysfunctional families, victims of drug abuse, alcoholism, inadequate familial and societal structures, and incarceration, Nevaeh shares her story to help others attain insight into the struggles of children born into these dynamics and how she overcame them through education, fortitude, and a deep desire for a better life.
“I grew up not having my mother by my side because of her own struggles with addiction, which led to me getting into trouble, growing up too fast, and having a constant worry about what could happen next,” she said. “Although my dad has had his struggles as well, he has always been there and tried his best for all of us, working late nights to provide for us, keeping us warm and safe. Without his love and nourishment, our lives would’ve been much more difficult.”
In a previous story on Cheech Raygoza in the Santa Ynez Valley Star dated Aug. 2, 2022, wherein Griselda told her story of addiction and incarceration, she said that one of the inmates she met while incarcerated had a huge impact on her, inspiring her to realize how much damage she had caused, not only to her own life, but more importantly, to the lives of her children. She decided to get clean for the sake of her children, once and for all.
When Neveah was 12 years old, she and her siblings moved back in with their mother after being in their grandmother’s care for three years.
“My mother helped herself by making all the necessary changes in her life that were required to regain custody of me and my siblings. We then moved from Santa Maria to Los Alamos into an apartment,” she explained.
But with all the changes and uncertainty in Neveah’s life, there were also many struggles along the way.
“When we first moved to Los Alamos, I had to change schools. That was a big change for me,” she explained. “Plus, I didn’t know how to live a normal life with my mom, whom I had been away from for three years. It was a lot to get used to, but I did. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend school with my brother. He was in eighth grade, and I was in sixth. He was also getting in trouble, which made his teacher resentful towards him, and once he left to go to high school, the same teacher held the same
resentment towards me, which wasn’t easy because I was now the one getting picked on. This teacher made me think that I wouldn’t amount to anything, constantly bringing up my mother’s past to hold against me, just as he had done to my brother. I began to suffer from depression. When COVID hit, I was thankful because I didn’t have to see him anymore.”
Entering high school is a difficult transition in itself, and with the complications of COVID, her road ahead was fraught with more unexpected hurdles.
“I was 13 at the time, and I didn’t know what depression was until I felt it. I was always in my head, overthinking everything,” she explained. “And when I started my freshman year at Righetti High School, it was still during COVID, and I hated it. I lost all motivation, my depression got worse, I was failing school, and I was just stuck in a dark hole that I couldn’t seem to get out of.
“There were teachers who never really showed they cared because everything was so new. And there were counselors who didn’t guide me in the right direction when I needed the help. COVID changed everything. After that year ended, I transferred to Orcutt Academy High School, which was the best decision I’d made up to that point. The school was so welcoming and supportive, and my
teachers wanted to see me succeed. But after transferring, I had to play catch-up because of failing the previous school year. It was hard and kind of a setback, but I pushed and pushed myself.
During her junior year, she learned that she was able to cross-enroll into community college while still attending high school, and in so doing, it would help her catch up with her credits. She did that for the rest of her time in high school, and she said that it was the best feeling to have that opportunity and to get help from her stepdad and mother, who worked and ran the B.I.G.E. Club at Allan Hancock College, which her stepfather founded. Unfortunately, when her senior year rolled around, she was still at risk of not graduating due to one difficult class, despite all of the hard work she had put into her education. She fell back into a depression but pushed through it. She said that the thought of failing again was just “unthinkable.”
“I seriously thought that I was not going to make it, but I pushed myself again, and by the grace of God, I was able to pass the class,” she said. “During the second semester, I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and got baptized. Without God’s strength and love, I wouldn’t be where or who I am today. I’m very grateful that I made that decision for myself because it allowed me to make a change and start over.”
Despite all the struggles she has faced, Nevaeh graduated from high school in 2024, and this year she graduated from Allan Hancock College in May. She received two degrees in administration of justice and liberal arts: social and behavioral sciences, and received four certificates of achievement.
She was awarded “Student of the Year” because of her accomplishments and also received a scholarship. She said that she is proud to have been accepted at all four universities she applied to: Cal State Long Beach, Chico State, San Diego State, and Fresno State. She is now attending SDSU to further her education and obtain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“From someone who has struggled with motivation and not liking school to someone who wants to learn and work hard for a life that I’ve longed for is a miracle. It was a long road, but I finally did it, and I’m now walking happily through life knowing that God’s plan is the right plan,” she added.
“My mom has been my greatest inspiration,” she said. “She has shown me so much about what this world has to offer. She alone gives me so much strength and motivation to keep pushing forward. She as a person is important to me because despite all of her pain and suffering, she broke the cycle with the help of my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza. I am very fortunate to have them both in my life. Without them I don’t know where my life would be or how it would’ve turned out. My stepdad has helped us all get out of this cycle of feeling that we don’t belong or aren’t good enough for this world. He is a prime example of God’s grace working in all of our lives. Not only did he help change my life and that of my family, but he also changed himself and now helps change the lives of people around him. They both grew into these amazing people and are willing to help those who are struggling today. They didn’t just turn their lives around; they turned my life and my views around. My mom is now attending Chico State University, working towards her bachelor’s degree in sociology. She has two associate degrees in human services addiction studies and sociology to become a drug and alcohol counselor. My stepdad has now earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Berkeley and is the founder of the B.I.G.E program, which helps formerly incarcerated students navigate higher education. You can see why they are my inspiration because they taught me that there’s beauty in the struggle and that no matter how big or small a situation is, we will always get through it; we just have to have faith in God and work hard. My family, Richard, Devin, Damion, Josephine, and Allyson, will continue to be my best support system and the best role models. And a sincere thank you to my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza, and my mom, Griselda Martinez, for their inspiration and guidance and for giving me a story that I am proud of.”