{"id":1167,"date":"2018-06-25T17:54:15","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T17:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?page_id=1167"},"modified":"2019-07-01T13:34:49","modified_gmt":"2019-07-01T18:34:49","slug":"amaree-martin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/06\/25\/amaree-martin\/","title":{"rendered":"Amaree’ Martin"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Bethany Vonseggern <\/span><\/p>\n

Who inspires us is why we take the first step. What inspires us is what continues to drive us to success. For Western senior Amaree Martin<\/a> that person was her high school biology professor, Mr. Hymel, who helped Martin discover her passion for sports reporting.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was during homecoming week her senior year at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma that Amaree Martin had her \u201cah-ha\u201d moment and discovered her life plan. Martin was asked to fill in as an announcer during a show that was themed around ESPN. After stepping off the stage full of excitement, Mr. Hymel told her he could see her on ESPN<\/a>, and that\u2019s when Martin set the wheel in motion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Realizing that she wasn\u2019t an all-star basketball player, Martin decided to emphasize the passion she did have for the sport by reporting about it instead. Martin\u2019s goal is working as a sideline reporter and becoming a, NBA Analyst working directly with Sports Center<\/a> and ESPN. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After high school graduation she decided to step out of her comfort zone and take a chance by becoming a Griffon despite the lack of a sports broadcasting program at Western. Freshman year Martin was advised to focus on speech communications because of her interest for television.\u00a0 <\/span>According to Martin, focusing on Speech Communications has been beneficial, but not without its challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I progressed I realized I should have been a convergent media major. I have had to work so hard because I am not in that major or taking those classes,\u201d says Martin. \u201cOutside of my speech communication classes I\u2019m trying to focus on making myself better video-wise without those classes. I\u2019m doing extra to know more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wrong major or not, Martin prides herself on her focus and not changing her major since starting at Western. She has grown sign<\/span><\/p>\n

ificantly becoming better at talking, interviewing players and knowing sports on a different level. Martin claims that due to the competitive nature of sports broadcasting, knowing details in all sports is crucial to the success of a sports reporter. <\/span><\/p>\n

Studying weeks in advance about how players performed and how many points they scored is part of the research process that Martin takes before an interview.\u00a0 <\/span>Asking where athletes are from and how they got started are other ways that Martin tries to connect on a personal level during interviews and establish lasting relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always fun to know someone\u2019s story, that\u2019s why I love interviewing people,\u201d said Martin. \u201cMy go to question I always ask is who inspired you? It\u2019s really important; it all starts off with who inspired you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To build up more experience in sports broadcasting Martin interns with KQ2<\/a> and works on Griffon Update<\/a> which includes her own show \u201c1-on-1 with Amaree Martin.\u201d 1-on-1 was created by Martin in the fall of 2017 which demonstrates her initiative to succeed in her career. 1-on-1 is a sit down interview show where Martin speaks with athletes that are doing well in their sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a few job prospects in the works, Martin says that she is willing to go anywhere but has high hopes to work for one of the top 30 stations. Ultimately she would love to go to Los Angeles or another big city that would offer an opportunity to work for Fox Sports<\/a> or ESPN.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sports broadcasting is a challenging field, and more so for women because it is male dominated industry. Martin has had plenty of experience researching this and has nothing but words of encouragement for others looking to break out into this field. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNever give up\u2026It\u2019s always going to be a little challenging for us [women] because guys are always going to think they know their sports. You need to know your stuff because that\u2019s what it\u2019s going to come down to,\u201d said Martin. \u201cNever get discouraged, work hard because it is possible. Take criticism well because it does help and it\u2019s good to listen because it does help along the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Martin has spent the last four years enhancing her communication skills through story telling, learning about sports broadcasting and networking with others in her industry. Although Western didn\u2019t have the program of her choice, it didn\u2019t stop her from leading the way and following her dreams. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all a growing process and learning. Missouri Western helped me a lot,\u201d said Martin. \u201cI thought \u2018if I\u2019m going to do it, I\u2019m going to have to start it up\u2019 so that\u2019s why I came up with my 1-on-1 segment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Martin hopes that the program for broadcasting continues to grow. She has been told that there will be a sports show next semester and is thrilled to know that she was able to open the door and pave the way to expand the sports on Griffon Update. <\/span><\/p>\n

Tearing up when she spoke more intimately regarding her passion and dream path, Martin is thrilled with her journey thus far. She knows that it\u2019s her dedication, hard work and connections she\u2019s made that will help her succeed as a sports reporter. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve worked so hard and want it so bad. It\u2019s more than being on T.V. When you put so much time in to something you want to be so good at, that\u2019s when feelings start getting involved,\u201d said Martin. \u201cWhen I really get into something I go all in or I don\u2019t go in at all. And this is something that I have to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t