Kirby

Transferring from one school to another is tough as it is, but when you move out of your parents home as well, your life changes right before your very eyes.

Donte William Kirby, 21, born on September 30^th, 1992, from Philadelphia, Pa. attends Temple University as a junior majoring in Journalism.

            Under the harsh lighting in the tech center on Temple University’s campus, Donte Kirby entered the computer-filled alcove wearing a black sweatshirt and beaming with a shining smile on his face.

            Slouching back in the black reclining chairs, it is evident that Kirby is ready to get down to business and answer some questions.

            From PACE University in New York and back to his home roots of Philadelphia, Pa., Kirby realized what a huge accomplishment it was for him to move out on his own and attend a new university.

            “I was already focused on what I wanted to do. The big reason I came home was to stop putting a hold on my life. There was no reason to wait until after college to do what I want to do,” he said, relaxed and collected as he leaned forward with his hands in a loose clasp.

            What he wants to do is write books and he chose Journalism to be able to pay the bills while he does so. His genre interests include fantasy, young adult and urban fantasy.

            Kevin Chang, Kirby’s friend from his freshman year of high school projected his opinion of his transfer from one university to another.

            “His decision to transfer from Pace to Temple was definitely good in the aspect that he was able to experience a new culture and take it back with him.”

            Not only has he experienced a new culture, Chang mentions how Kirby has grown as a person and is “an individual who is able to support himself as well as the ones that are around him.”

            Learning new skills has turned him into who he is today, Chang said, and he can thank his transferring experience for that.

            Speaking of skills, supposedly writing isn’t Kirby’s only skill. Friend of Kirby’s, Kevin Scott, said, “Donte and I met in high school as we were both in the breakdancing club.”

            Kirby also mentioned how he has other hobbies in the journalism field like writing fiction and short stories in his free time.       

            While speaking to Kirby, it was evident that he always has a smile on his face and that he is truly a one-of-a-kind human being, affecting people for the good in ways he probably has no idea about.

            “Donte transferring to temple has affected me because he was the only one in our group of friends from high school who went to school out of state. Since he has been back we are able to hang out more often, and he also ended up becoming one of my roommates,” Scott said.

            Scott and Chang had nothing but nice things to say about Kirby, which shows that if anyone were to go through an experience as difficult as his they would need to get some pointers from Kirby first.

            “Donte is a very intellectual and humorous person who sees things for what they are,” said Scott.

             As for Chang, he describes Kirby as “an individual who knows how to appreciate what there is to appreciate, and suffer what there is to suffer.”

            Although the experience of transferring and moving out was great for Kirby, there were still some areas where he struggled.

            “The most difficult part about transferring was the paperwork, and the most difficult part of moving out other than the physical act of moving was the wait. I got mixed up about how a refund check works and had to wait until December when I could have moved in August”, said Kirby.

            Kirby mentioned how it was not the fact that he did not like PACE University that made him transfer schools, but there were some financial aide complications that Temple University would help out with.

            Despite his first choice of school not working out, Scott thinks it was for the best.

            “I think that transferring from a smaller suburban campus to a large city campus like temple changed Donte's attitude for the better because he was able to experience both sides of the spectrum,” said Scott.

            Although he may have had some struggles, Kirby pushed through them with great motivation and a strict mindset to be the best he could be, coming out of this experience with no anguish.

            “In retrospect, I probably should have come to Temple first, but I don’t regret it,” said Kirby.