Today on the Bold Student Podcast, we’re joined by none other than Donald Jolly. Donald is our very own essay coach, but he’s also a first-generation college student who studied English at Dartmouth, and has an MFA in dramatic writing from the University of Southern California. He's also a Los Angeles-based writer proudly hailing from Washington, DC.
As a playwright, he wrote the historical drama, Bonded, which was nominated for the Los Angeles stage Alliance Ovation award for playwriting and the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Los Angeles theatre, and winner of the 2013 Archon Bruce Brown Playwriting Award for LGBT historical place.
In today’s episode, Donald shares his experience as a first-generation college student and why he decided to major in English. He also talks about his love for using storytelling as an agent that inspires change. Donalds shares why he decided to go to Dartmouth and his collegiate experience, including how he found his space while navigating college life.
What We Cover:
- Being a first-generation college student and why he decided to major in English
- Donald’s love for using storytelling to inspire change
- Why Donald decided to go to Dartmouth, and what was his experience there like?
- Donald’s advice for navigating collegiate life and finding your space
“There are so many people who don't get to have this very special privilege that I have. And there's so much sacrifice that has gone in to get me here, whether it's my teachers in school, my grandparents who fled the Jim Crow South. The donors who gave money after school, American taxpayers for the Pell Grants, or Stafford loans, and financial aid, there were a lot of sacrifices made. And I felt it my responsibility to make the most of it. And that meant to explore what, meet new people, try new things, do my best in my classes, and ask for help when I need it.” - Donald Jolly
Connect with Donald:
- Website: https://www.d-jolly.net/
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https://theedvisoryla.kartra.com/page/CEE
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