“PULSE has definitely helped me think about myself as being part of a community. Not just the community on the South Hilltop, but the whole community of Pittsburgh. It’s easy to see yourself as an individual in a place, and PULSE has helped me see that I can be an integral part of a place that I can learn from and contribute to.”
A graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Donovan has a degree in Sociology and Africana Studies. Donovan is passionate about theatre and expresses himself through writing, acting, and directing. Donovan was a writing fellow at the Center for Teaching and Learning in university, which allowed him to work with students to help them produce their most effective writing. Donovan enjoys collaborating with others, volunteering in his free time, and working with students. Donovan is a part of the South Hilltop cohort and serves at Steeltown Entertainment. Donovan was interviewed by Seppi Grugan.
Seppi: How has PULSE inspired you to live/think/act differently?
Donovan: PULSE has definitely helped me think about myself as being part of a community. Not just the community on the South Hilltop, but the whole community of Pittsburgh. It’s easy to see yourself as an individual in a place, and PULSE has helped me see that I can be an integral part of a place that I can learn from and contribute to. Being a member of PULSE gives me the confidence to strive for things that I might not otherwise do.
Seppi: What have you enjoyed most about living in community? How have you and your housemates pushed/encouraged one another?
Donovan: What I enjoy most about living in community is the social aspect of it. Living in a house with five other people who actually want to talk and have good conversations. We have done a good job keeping each other honest and being straightforward with one another.
Seppi: What have you enjoyed most about your nonprofit partnership?
Donovan: What I enjoy most about my service is being around art and artists. I have a theatre background, and it’s great to be in a space where people are creating things, especially where youth are creating things. Seeing the first movie that the youth created affirmed my role with my nonprofit.
Seppi: How do you like to spend your morning and evening commute?
Donovan: The great thing about working at Steeltown is that I work a little later in the day, so I can spend the morning listening to the news, working out, and making a nice breakfast. I bike down the hill and have time to myself, which is a good way to exercise and get my blood pumping. I take the bus back up at the end of the day and read or occasionally converse with the other commuters.
Seppi: Tell me something you are learning about yourself through PULSE.
Donovan: That I am capable of working and getting jobs done and getting them done well, around the house as well as at service. That I can cook, clean, and maintain a standard at home that my housemates will find satisfactory.
Seppi: How have you related to other fellows?
Donovan: I’ve been pleased with the other PULSE fellows and how much insight, depth, and curiosity they have. I think it’s a great group that still has a lot of uncertainty, but one that trusts in their own principles and is bound by a longing for community.
Read more Fellow Stories about their experience in PULSE. If you would like to learn more about the PULSE program, please visit our Serve with Us page.
Also, check out other Stories of Transformation: