Comm 2320
Basic Reporting for the School of Communication at ECU

Elisha Kirkman, a 19-year-old sophomore from Raleigh, came to East Carolina University to fulfill a high school dream . . . she wanted to travel the world and write.

“(In high school) I was in the Key Club and S.A.V.E., which stands for Students Against Violence Everywhere. I did chorus and newspaper. The newspaper helped me decide what I wanted to do because it taught me how to write stories,” said Kirkman.

Along with her growing interest in writing, Kirkman developed an interest in Spanish.
“I like to write and love Spanish . . . I want to (become) either a writer or an investigative reporter. . . Spanish interests me because it is a beautiful language and culture. Anything that lets me travel is fine,” said Kirkman, “I chose investigative reporting as one of my career choices because I watched a report that John Quinones did about Mayans on ABC and I figured it was a good way to travel and report at the same time.”

Kirkman’s admiration for Spanish and travel began at a young age.

“I learned Spanish in 5^th grade. I started studying Spanish in high school, watched Spanish films and I went to Mexico which really made me more interested because a guy started talking to me in Spanish when I told him I knew some of the language,” said Kirkman.
Kirkman’s love of writing also began while growing up.

“She has always kept a journal and enjoyed putting things on paper,” said , Kirkman’s mother, Nellie. “We traveled quite a bit. We have been to Disneyland twice, went on a cruise to the Caribbean, have been to New York and did a cross country trip to California and El Paso, Texas.”
However, to pursue her dream career with a degree in communication and Spanish, Kirkman had to leave behind her family.

“It was hard leaving my family to go to college because I was used to having people do stuff for me and my mom cook my meals. Also, it was hard being away from my sister because I had never been away from her for a long period of time,” said Kirkman.

Kirkman’s passion for traveling strengthened with a job as a camp counselor with the All Arts and Sciences Camp. There she traveled to colleges like N.C. State and Virginia Tech. Traveling also shapes her future plans.

“(After graduation) I either want to move to New York or Spain and write,” said Kirkman, “I want to live in New York because I love the city. I want to live in Spain because I’m fascinated with Spanish culture.”

A move to New York after graduation sparked an idea with Kirkman’s sister, Ashley.

“We were considering making a magazine together. She would write and I would make layouts.” “We were thinking about doing a teen magazine like “Cosmogirl” and set it up in New York.”
But before all these traveling plans, Kirkman must finish her second year of college.

“(My schedule this semester) is easy, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I only have one more class after (basic reporting). I’m (also) taking ethnic studies, Spanish 4, music appreciation and anthropology,” said Kirkman.

She has a goal set for this year.

“I want to get a 3.5 G.P.A. because that will be fantastic,” said Kirkman.

However, trying to accomplish academic goals can become overwhelming and Kirkman uses her favorite hobby to get through the stress.

“My favorite hobby is dancing. When I am upset, it makes me feel better because it is relaxing . . . I do Latin dancing for the S.A.L.S.A. dancing team at ECU…,” said Kirkman.
Like every other teenager, Kirkman tries to find time for her friends.

“(During our free time) we plan things and spend some time at school. We write music and stories,” said Brittany Babyak, Kirkman’s friend.

During stressful times, Kirkman has dancing and her friends to help clear her mind, she also gets advice from her role model . . . her mother.

“I just advise her about how to live her life . . . I try to teach her moral values,” said Nellie Kirkman.

With her mother’s advice, Kirkman hopes to see her name printed on the pages of one of two well-known magazines.

“I want to work for “Seventeen” or “Cosmogirl” because I’ve been reading those magazines since middle school and I’ve always liked them,” said Kirkman.

*Sources: Nellie Kirkman (mother of Elisha)
Ashley Kirkman (sister of Elisha)
Brittany Babyak (friend of Elisha)

Filed under: Classmate Profiles