Beyond The Nest is a feature that reaches out to WYWLA  graduates and interviews them to 

provide insights about their college or professional experiences.

This month we spotlight Hunter Martin !

What year did you graduate from WYWLA?

I graduated from WYWLA in 2017!

 How long were you at WYWLA? 

I was at WYWLA for all four years of high school. 

Why did you choose WYWLA? What were some things you had in mind to get out of WYWLA? Did you? Who were your biggest influences at WYWLA?

Truthfully, I didn’t choose WYWLA for myself, my parents did. In middle school, my only focus was staying close to my friends and attending my base school. However, when looking back I believe my parents made the right decision in wanting me to attend WYWLA. When attending, I truly felt that I had a community, which allowed me to build strong friendships and relationships with the faculty and staff. 

What are some of the biggest lessons you learned at WYWLA?

I learned the importance of taking risks and saying “Yes” to activities that might scare you. Taking these steps allowed me to understand who I really am, my worth, and the importance of surrounding yourself with peers who simultaneously lift you up and challenge you.

What were you involved in during your high school years?

During my first two years, I participated in Juniorettes, which was sponsored by the Junior League of Raleigh. It was a great opportunity for us to get involved in the community through a variety of service activities. I was also involved in Student Government, serving as President in my tenth-grade year. Additionally, I played JV and Varsity lacrosse through WYWLA’s partnership with Broughton and I loved it!

Approximately how many college credits did you earn through our partnership with St. Augustine’s University?

Unfortunately, I can’t remember the exact amount of credits I earned at St. Augustine’s, but I was able to enter college as a first-semester sophomore. 

What did you major in at University of North Carolina- Greensboro? What is your career goal? When did you know you wanted to go into communication?

At UNC Greensboro, I majored in Communication Studies with minors in Women’s Studies and Classical Studies. Additionally, I received a Master’s degree from Georgetown University in Public Relations and Corporate Communications.

When entering college, I originally wanted to become a lawyer and I quickly learned that law school was not for me and my interests changed. When making that mental shift, at first, it was a little shocking and I felt lost in what I wanted to do. Therefore, I went to a semi-adjacent major, Communication Studies, and loved the theories and philosophies behind how people communicate. In my senior year of undergrad, I realized Public Relations was my passion and decided to go to graduate school for it! Currently, I’m working for a subsidiary of Smithbucklin called 360 Live Media as a Senior Public Relations Coordinator in Washington, D.C.

What advice would you offer to our 6th-grade OWLS, 9th-grade OWLS, and our senior OWLS?

If possible, take any and all opportunities provided to you! WYWLA has an abundant amount of experiences available to you and it’s truly a safe place to learn, fail and succeed. Taking that first step of saying “yes” it’s giving you the power to take control of your life and explore opportunities that might benefit you in the long run.  

What do you do in your spare time?

In my free time, I love exploring the city I live in by trying new restaurants, going on leisurely walks with friends, and attending events. Also, I found a passion for cycling, so I’ll often ride my bike around the city or go to a spin class!

What colleges did you apply to/get accepted? Why did you choose ______?

I applied to a ton of colleges, some being William & Mary, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, NC A&T, Spelman, and a few more. When deciding which college to attend, I struggled because I didn’t have a strong pull toward any school. I even remember a few of the WYWLA faculty being stressed out because I was the last student in my grade to decide/share where I was going to school. (A major thank you to Mrs. di Carlo for sticking it out with me!!)

I ultimately chose UNC Greensboro because I was accepted into the International Honors College, which allowed me to take honors-level courses, live in honors housing, choose specific language courses, and study abroad. Additionally, UNC Greensboro had all of the extracurricular activities I thought I might have an interest in such as clubs, greek life, and sports. 

How did high school prepare you for college? 

In terms of academics, the WYWLA teachers were tough (in a good way). I think back to teachers like Mrs. Watkins, Mr. di Carlo, and Mrs. Solomon who challenged me to put my best work forward and were never shy about telling me if my work was subpar. Eventually, it made me a better student when entering into college-level courses because I had a strong foundation from my learnings and work at WYWLA.

Socially, WYWLA prepared me to meet people with a variety of different backgrounds and learn how to find common ground. With students coming from all over the county, there are not a ton of shared experiences. Attending WYWLA is such a niche experience and I’m eternally grateful for the time spent there and the people who made me into the person I am today.