East Carolinian

Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jaymee Mason

Although ECU senior Martha Bass has spent the last four years at ECU, she has not always been familiar with traditional schooling. Home schooled from kindergarten to high school, Bass is now pursuing her bachelor's degree in public relations. She thinks all the reading she did and accelerated learning she acquired by studying one-on-one with her mother over the years helped make her college experience easier, and says the transition from home schooling to college was not a difficult one.

"It went smoothly," said Bass.

"I was so ready to be a college student that I just fit right in. Meeting cool people in my dorm and having a great roommate helped, too."

Originally from Edenton, N.C., Bass has been enjoyed her years in Greenville.

"I love ECU," Bass said. "I've become so attached to the school spirit and the people here that I'll be sad to leave."

Bass hopes to use her PR degree to pursue a career in entertainment, but right now she balances her time between 15 credit hours and part-time job at Starlight Café.

"Most of my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays," Bass said.

"So the days I have off, I try to concentrate on homework or keeping my house organized, looking for jobs, et cetera."

Bass says she has gained many practical learning experiences from her public relations courses at ECU, and hopes to use them to work in the music industry.

"I've always enjoyed the communication courses I've taken over the past four years because I learned many important concepts that could be easily applied to everyday life," Bass said.

"I'd like to work in the public relations or marketing department for a record label. Music public relations is not something you think about often, but bands need public relations specialists, too, in order to get their music exposed and talked about. Music is the one thing I wouldn't mind working 9-5 for."

Attending ECU as a second generation Pirate, Bass says that her time at the university has prepared her for life after college.

"My mother also went to school here so I grew up with a great appreciation for the Pirates. I actually stayed in the same dorm as my mom did when she was here," she said.

During her spare time, Bass attends shows and enjoys taking photographs.

"I love going to [rock] shows and finding new bands," Bass said. "Usually we have to go out of town to Raleigh or Wilmington for different venues, but it's worth it to check out the good music scenes."



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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