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 30th, 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.
