It was a whirlwind day for Jay Martin Jr. as he made his national hosting debut with PBS in New York City. The KCTS 9 Journalist and host of The Drive Project Podcast on the Converge Media Network, Martin Jr. described the moment he first stepped onto the PBS set as ‘surreal’.

“From the moment I walked in, there was just this overwhelming feeling of gratitude,” Martin said. “There was a moment where I kind of got a little emotional, because this has come from just never giving up. I thought of all the people home in Seattle that believe in me, and then people across America that know me, and they believe in me as well.”

Martin Jr.’s journey to becoming a television host started with the exact same show he he’ll make his national debut with - PBS’s Nature. He recalled sitting on the floor by the television watching the show as his way to unwind after school.

“My grandma and I would spend hours on the phone, talking about the different things that I love, shows like nature, and my experiences,” Martin said. “She would ask me what I saw, and I would say ‘I see something greater than what I'm experiencing right now’.”

Now Martin gets to bring that same sense of wonderment and joy into the homes of viewers across the United States. He described the humbling feeling of being the voice that could inspire another child to follow in his footsteps, as well as the excitement he has over this opportunity.

“I woke up with a a pep in my step this morning. I didn't even eat. And it's a three hour difference. I got up at 5:30am ready to go,” Martin said.

He says his message to anyone is simple - continue to push for your goals and keep going.

“My biggest thing to people is to go for what you want. Don't settle. We are living in a time where if you just believe, there's so much out there. There's so much possibility,” Martin said. “All it takes is just one step at a time. I'm a firm believer of just telling myself, keep going, keep going.”

You can watch Jay’s national PBS debut next month - for updated scheduling click here