Martin, a senior in radio-television from Chicago, interned at WJBT, The Beat, in Jacksonville, FLA, the biggest radio station in Jacksonville, and the third biggest in Florida.

Martin said while interning, he kicked it with the likes of Shaba Ranks, Immature, Fabu, Notorious BIG, Brandy, Da Brat, and MC Hammer.

The most amazing thing about meeting these people was that no one acted like big stars or no one was big headed, Martin said. They acted just like average people.

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Martin worked in the promotions department, in which his responsibilities included booking and catering to musical and comedic performers from around the country.

From eating lunch with Keith Murry to driving around with MC Hammer, Martin said besides gaining some great practical experience from the station, he also made some fabulous connections.

Keith Murry gave me his home address, his number, and his pager number, Martin said. And Fabu told me to come to Detroit and hang out.

WJBT is divided into four sections; country, top 40, urban, and the oldies, the section he was involved in at first.

They saw that I wasn’t having to much fun in the oldies department, and they moved me to the urban department, Martin said.

Though Martin’s main duty was promotions, he said he also had other responsibilities such as a radio show every Thursday called Joke Off where listeners could call in and tell their best jokes with Martin judging them as good or bad. And on Sundays, Martin would do live broadcasts from the beach.

Martin said from the moment he arrived he was treated very well, and not like an intern at all, which he said was a big surprise.

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It was called the Beat Family, he said. It was really like one big family.

The road towards this intern was a long journey Martin said. After sending 25 resumes, making 50 phone calls, and bugging the station’s general manager, he said he landed the intern.

Persistence is why I got the intern, he said. The people at the station said I was the most persistent intern they ever had.

But WJBT was not the only opportunity Martin had for an intern. Both Majic 108 in St. Louis and Def Jam Recordings in New York offered Martin interns, he said.

I haven’t seen my mother in about two years, he said. Since she is in Florida, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to visit her.

Martin said he would love to return toWJBT, but as of now he is still keeping his options open.

It was worth every minute of my time.