Katie Martin

 

  “We cannot escape history. We.. will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.” Abraham Lincoln, 12-1-1862

Katie Martin, or as her friends and family like to call her “K-Mart,” or “Spud,” is an optimistic and open-minded 19- year old, born in Goshen, Indiana, and raised in Charlottesville, VA. Of German, Swiss, and Italian decent, she’s the oldest of her siblings, with a younger brother named Zach.

Katie is a history major with a minor in Leadership studies at Christopher Newport University. She loves to read, watch movies, dance, play any kind of sport, and listen to music. Katie plays the piano, and loves all types of music except for heavy metal and country. 

Katie feels most at home when she is outdoors. “ I love the beach or the woods,” she exclaims. “I like to be outdoors so both of these are my favorites.”

For Katie, this internship provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a truly secluded culture. “Not many people are ever able to actually experience a culture in any part of the world let alone one that is truly secluded and untouched by the rest of the mankind, like that of the tribes of East New Britain.”

“The historian in me finds it incredibly fascinating and honoring to be given the opportunity to visit and actively participate in the lives of a self-sufficient people untainted by “civilization,” she passionately explains.

Though she has been privileged enough to have been to many other countries, she feels that this particular experience will change her more than she could ever imagine. 

Katie has been extensively traveling all her life, but her favorite place was probably India. “It is such a different culture and country than I have ever encountered before,” she says.

Katie is motivated everyday by “ just the anticipation of what might happen that day.” “I like to look at each individual day as a new adventure…or like a movie that I have to live through to see what happens.”

About 95% of the time she has a really positive view of everything that happens in life!

And, this comes as no surprise, as her inspiration and role models are her parents. Katie’s dad inspires her because he doesn’t hesitate to act on what he desires to do. “He is himself, and only that,” she says. “He is never scared to be so either. He is one of the strongest people I know… he reminds me that anything I will face during the day I can handle.”

Not only does Katie derive her strength from her father, but she’s also learned strength and focus from her mother. Her mom, “is the polar opposite of my dad, but just as strong. The two of them complement each other in such a way that I can only hope to find in a spouse.” Katie happily says.

With loving family influences, Katie has developed into an extremely open-minded and buoyant person. She doesn’t discount anything, and is ready to be blown away by this incredible opportunity. 

She is most excited to go to a new place. She exclaims, “ the anticipation of seeing a new place and new customs and everything.. I am just so excited about the whole thing!”

Katie has no idea what to expect from this experience, so there is no specific thing she would like to learn more about. “I just want to know and have them reveal whatever they want to me,” she says. And she is willing to introduce any customs of her own that they wish to learn more about.

With Katie’s bright outlook and open perspective, we will truly see the truth and wisdom of the tribes of East New Britain. 

 

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