Trainer in the Making

It isn’t hard to pick out Shelby Martin in a crowd. With SeaWorld paraphernalia, including backpack, sweatshirt, shoes, and necklace, Martin displays her life’s goal plainly for all to see: She wants to be a killer whale trainer.

The average college student imagines what he or she will do someday, but Point Loma Nazarene University senior Martin has done more than any student could dream of, and she’s not even done yet.

“I’m pretty outgoing; I like doing a lot of different things,” she said. Martin, now 20, is involved with a wide range of activities and hobbies, but it is her innate drive that makes her stand out. She keeps busy, but it doesn’t hurt her grades or her determination for what she loves to do.

Growing up in Galesburg, Ill., Martin was exposed to a different way of life than many Californians are used to.

“I am in the process of getting my [pilot’s] license,” she said. Martin grew up around planes, as her father has his license and flies private planes for leisure. At age 14 she started flying and is now half-way through her training. She said that, although her small town becomes dull at times, she always has a plane if she ever wants to get away.

“My dad and I flew to Chicago for the weekend once,” Martin said. However, just because she can fly doesn’t mean it is always safe.

“There was one time where we had engine failure and were forced to land in a cornfield,” she said. “We had seconds to decide what to do. I praise the Lord we made it down safely.”

Too extreme? Not quite for Martin.

In her free time she likes to race figure eight cars, a motor sport popular in the Midwest. According to Martin, figure eight racing is when cars race each other around a track, which is in the shape of an eight, and oftentimes collide in the middle.

“It’s like a demolition derby, but is more of a race.” Surprisingly, Martin has never been hurt.

“It’s kinda hickish,” she said of her family’s hobby. “I started racing when I was really young.”

Along with these dangerous activities, Martin also enjoys playing the drums, writing poetry, swimming, and being involved in numerous sports. Still, it’s her passion for killer whales that she takes most seriously. She is advanced SCUBA certified, which is just one of the steps Martin has taken to fulfill her dream of becoming an animal trainer at SeaWorld.

Martin has wanted to be a killer whale trainer since eighth grade, but this passion did grow away with age.

Her mother, Karen Martin, supported her love of orcas. She said that Shelby watched all the Free Willy movies and even listened to a CD of whale sounds.

“All of a sudden, she had this interest in whales, and it developed from there,” said Martin’s mother. The family began planning more trips to SeaWorld locations.

However, it was at 13, while visiting at SeaWorld Orlando, that she realized becoming a trainer was something she could actually do someday.

“It grabbed my attention,” she said. “The animals are amazing.”

Martin always thought it would be “cool to do,” but it wasn’t until her sophomore year in high school that she reached a new realization. During spring break of that year, Martin and her family returned to SeaWorld. While watching the Shamu Adventure Show, Martin was chosen to be on the screen to answer a question. She said that it hit her the moment she saw herself on the screen.

“I felt that I wanted to be more involved. I knew then that this is what I wanted to do,” she said.

That following summer, Martin participated in SeaWorld’s Trainer for a Day Program at SeaWorld San Diego, where she was able to interact with orcas and also see the workings of an animal training position more in depth.

“It was the best experience of my life, so far,” said Martin. This only further confirmed her desire to become a killer whale trainer.

“From there on, everything was about that,” said Martin. “We always had to vacation to places by SeaWorld.” She took extra steps to fulfill all qualifications for applying, and started to build her resume as a teenager. Martin took immediate action by joining her high school’s swim and diving teams.

“I knew my swimming skills needed to be excellent,” she said.

Martin said that there are approximately 300 applicants for each animal trainer opening, but, due to the extensively physical swim test, very few will pass.

Other requirements for the trainer position are a lifeguard certification, and SCUBA certification, both of which Martin has already received.

“I have all the qualifications necessary and people applying don’t usually have that,” said Martin.

On top of that, Martin got a head start on applying by graduating one semester early from Galesburg High School to attend a local community college on a full softball scholarship. She took college courses in advance to ensure her eligibility to graduate from college early as well.

Although SeaWorld only requires a high school diploma for the position, Martin wants to ensure her chances by receiving a higher education. She is pursuing a minor in psychology because, according to SeaWorld’s Website, it is one of the preferred fields of study. When Martin came in, psychology was her major, until she changed it to media communications, which she originally pursued to give her background information on filmmaking. It now serves as her other driving passion.

At first, she wanted to make a documentary of orcas in the Arctic, but the experience she obtains in her media communications major is not just second option next to training anymore. Martin has developed a love and skill for film and documentaries. She launched a new show for PLNU’s television channel called “Christians in Media” featuring icons such as X-Men producer Ralph Winter. She has also done documentaries on her experiences figure eight racing and on her college powder-puff football team. She worked as a technical assistant for the station and currently serves as the Productions Manager on PLNU’s Channel 3 management staff.

Rick Moncauskas, Media Operations Manager for the television station, has worked with Martin since her freshman year. He watched her learn and grow in her love for film. He says her change of heart and change of majors was an eventual process.

“It’s not like I saw a switch flip somewhere,” said Moncauskas. “She just started taping everything she was doing.” He said once Martin knew the equipment and how to edit, she kept moving in that direction.

“She’s not a pushover by any means,” Moncauskas said. “She works very hard when she’s decided what to do.”

Though Martin is committed in various areas of study, her course of action is always to better her chances of being a killer whale trainer. She wants to start training as soon as possible. Although every semester has been loaded full with units, Martin will graduate from PLNU one year early with the class of 2009, with hopes of working as a killer whale trainer afterward.

Martin’s parents are really proud of her and her unrivaled determination to accomplish her goals.

“It really confirmed her love for them that she graduated early and got a jump start on college,” said Martin’s mother. “She’s really anxious to get into [training].”

Martin already has a foundation at SeaWorld San Diego. She worked there in the summer of 2007 as an animal training valet for the Dolphin Interaction Program (DIP) and Wild Arctic Interaction Program (WAIP). In this entry level position to animal training, she mainly worked with guests who were participating in these programs and also got an introduction to the animal training department. She may not have been working with Shamu, but she still got to see some stars.

“P. Diddy came in,” said Martin, but instead of being star struck, she was turned off by his attitude.

“He was very difficult,” she said. “But lots of celebrities come in and bring their families, which is fun.”

Overall, Martin loved working at SeaWorld because each day was different. It gave her a glimpse into her future by working with other trainers, hearing their stories, and making connections.

“You meet people that are where you eventually want to be at,” said Martin. She got an inside look into the environment to see if it was really what she expected it to be.

“It’s such a happy place for me,” she said. “I loved going to work everyday and knowing you can be close to animals, which is really cool.”

Although she only got to work with the animals on special occasions, Martin still got to experience the ins and outs of training. She understands that animal training is an extensive process of building a relationship with the animal before you can train it.

This was illustrated in November 2006 when a killer whale at SeaWorld San Diego dragged a trainer underwater during a show breaking his foot. The trainer was pulled under twice and held there until the whale finally released him and he was able to surface and swim away. (Click here to read the full story.)

Like most parents, Martin’s parents worry about the safety of their child and the risks that come with animal training.

“The trainer for a day was scary at the time,” said Martin’s mother, Karen. Ironically, the whale Martin interacted with is the same one that took the trainer down. But her mom knows nothing will sway Martin from her love for orcas.

“I questioned Shelby, ‘You sure you really want to do this?’ and she said, ‘Absolutely.’”

Watch as a killer whale dives with a trainer’s foot in its mouth.. This incident was two or three weeks before the other trainer was pulled underwater by a different whale. This orca obeyed commands to release the trainer and return to the side of the tank. The trainer was not injured.

A temperamental whale is at the bottom of Martin’s worries. Along with asthma, she suffers from Crohn’s disease, which is an ongoing disease of the digestive system affecting any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It causes a lowered immune system, diarrhea, and inflammation of the intestines, which can lead to ulcerations and bowel injury.

Because Crohn’s disease causes anemia, Martin visits the hospital three times a week to get iron infusions.

“It’s time consuming,” said Martin. “It drains you, too. I get so tired and worn out.”

Being sick takes her energy level down, but Martin tries to stay physically fit and to eat right. But even with her medication, it is hard for her at times.

“Sometimes I can’t sit because I’m in so much pain,” said Martin. “I can’t eat stuff like a normal college student.”

Martin worries more about how this interferes with animal training because it could potentially prevent her from getting in the pool to swim.

Her mom says that Martin will never let Crohn’s take her down.

“It was tough on her at first, but she is making the proper adjustments if she wants to follow her dreams,” she said.

Being so far away from home makes it hard for Martin at times, but San Diego and PLNU has proved to be the perfect environment for Martin.

“I needed to be somewhere where SeaWorld was,” she said. Although she admits that the distance from her family is difficult, she loves college life, and is thankful that her parents are willing to let her be at PLNU.

Her family, back in Illinois, says that it’s hard for them as well.

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve spent on airline tickets,” said Martin’s mother. “It’s worth every penny to bring her back home. Lots of people like to see her.”

But San Diego is Martin’s new home for now.

“I feel connected here; once I stepped on campus, I knew this is where I needed to be,” she said. “It wasn’t until I got here that I saw [killer whale training] could be real.”

Martin is just thankful to be one step closer to her dream. She will do a film internship during the spring with intentions of animal training on the side.

Because she has a head start, Martin will use that time to feel out the best route for success. She is planning on interning with Sea Life Park in Hawaii during the fall and hoping to get a job there or with SeaWorld San Diego following it.

“I know there is still a lot of work to be done,” she said. “I know this is what God is calling me to do.”

Her mom also realizes this as her daughter’s true passion.

“If she’s fulfilling her dream that’s more important to me,” she said. “She knows her limits.”

Martin may be goal oriented and strives for the best, but realizes that everything will come with time.

“I think everything happens for a reason. I’m just praying that it works out.”

Here is a one-on-one interview with Shelby for you to get to know her a bit better.

Thanksgiving Expectations

Thinking of where and how Thanksgiving began, it is almost impossible to connect it with our own traditions. To me, Turkey Day is a day of being thankful, mostly because I am really full with delicious food and spend the day with my family. However, this holiday weekend, I came to a realization (maybe it's because I'm 21 and oh so old now).

For those who may not know, my mom is white and my dad is Persian, causing a dichotomy between my Persian culture and American tradition. They never really mix. Whatever my dad did with his family is completely different than what my mom's family does. What I had never thought of before was that on Thanksgiving, my family has a tradition that neither of my parents grew up doing.

Now I don't know how many families actually do this, or if their tables are big enough, but my family always has the plump juicy turkey smack dab in the middle of the table; it sort of serves the role as "centerpiece". My dad will carve it there, holding true to the American "man of the house" figure.

It never hit me till this year that most families don't do this anymore. They carve it before hand and put it on a platter. However, my dad insists that the whole turkey be on the table and be carved there. Being that my dad never had Thanksgiving until he married my mom, he began his own tradition of the whole turkey brought to the table...why? Because that's what he saw in the media when he came to America. He wanted to be the strong dad figure, the head of the table, the one with the honor of carving the massive turkey. I just think it is interesting how in the smallest ways, we are all impacted by what we see on TV or in movies. Even the littlest thing can create a new expectation, or in this case, tradition.

True Life: I'm an Intern

Ok, well at the present moment I am not an intern. But one day, not too long ago, I was one. I remember it at if it were yesterday ... :)

Applying for internships was an incredibly painstaking task for me. Having never made a resume prior to last spring, I started from scratch. I had to make myself sound good on paper, (which should come easily to me as a journalism major) but it is a lot harder than it seems. Creating a cover letter is the same deal: in one page let me brag about myself and tell you how I am so wonderful, smart, perfect, etc. I respect the formality of it all, but it is much different than turning in a homework assignment like I had been doing every year of my life since age four.

I applied to all the television news stations in town: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and even KPBS. I was really crossing my fingers for NBC. Channel 7 (KNSD) has always been my favorite news to watch, and growing up in San Diego, I've been watching Marty Levin on the news since I was a wee one. Not only was my own liking a factor, but I was impressed by their internship program. It is set up to be a learning experience, not an "intern get my coffee" type of internship. They require lots of paperwork (again, I liked the formality) and reading about it online gave me a good feeling that NBC's program was by far the most committed in teaching.

I was in the airport when I got the call. Jesse Garcia, the internship coordinator, told me the gradulatory message. I flipped. Me + NBC = REAL? Well, I'd have to get used to it because I started a month later.

Summer 2008: my first internship begins. Being in a working news room made me feel so tiny. I felt young, like everyone knew by looking at me that, "Yep, that's the new intern." But by the end of the first week, I got my groove, and was no longer insecure about being the "intern".


There could have been no one better to intern for than Ken Kramer. I was his intern for the "About San Diego" show. Ken is truly the most warm-hearted and entertaining person to work with, but more importantly, is a master of his craft. I learned so much about storytelling and writing from him, and he was so encouraging to me as a young, learning college student. On a typical day at NBC, I would schedule interviews, research stories, dub DVDs, log tapes, write the occassional intro or tag to one of Ken's pieces. At least twice a week, I'd get to go out with Ken and watch how a story develops from an idea to airing on the 4pm news. So cool! I also got to do my own package and a few stand-ups... all of which will contribute to my portfolio/reel someday soon!

I also got to work with Bob Hansen (Consumer Bob), Gene Cubbison, Pat Brown, and several other photographers. My instant friend through it all was Rand Levin, a photographer who worked side-by-side with Ken on "About San Diego". Rand is more than an editing guru and rap master, he taught me the other side of broadcast journalism, camera work and editing. He has a eye for aesthetic shots and watching him work gave me great insight on my own future projects.


My most favorite internship experience was helping the web crew on opening day at the Del Mar Race Track. The idea of being "press" was beyond cool. I got press passes, went in the press box, hung out in the live truck... it was a neat day. I was in charge of interviewing as many people with crazy hats as I could, taking their picture, and then uploading them on the NBC 7/39 website.



Being that I had to do that all day, I did a little experiment. I know I look young, and no one would give me the time of day if I was some nobody. So when I would approach these slightly intoxicated women with their obnoxious hats, I'd start off, "Hi, I’m with NBC 7/39. What a great hat you’ve got there! Can you tell me a bit about it? And do you mind if I take your picture?” I did like 30 mini interviews with these ridiculous women. Then came the experiment. Sometimes I switched my phrase around and asked for the photo first… and they think, sure. I don’t care if this girl takes my picture. But then they learn I’m with NBC, and I have the power to give them “fame” on TV. They perked up at those 3 little letters… N-B-C.

And so do I. I'm hoping to return next semester as a writing and producing intern. Yes, I am tossing myself into another profit-less internship. I'm just hoping what comes from it will be better than the money I'd make in one semester.