“Goofy!” That’s what this week’s campus celeb Donovan Roby answered when asked to describe himself in one word, and I have to say it is a pretty accurate description! Whether he’s working at Cardinal Court’s front desk or making music as a member of the band Out of the Ordinary (otherwise known as O.T.O), this campus cutie knows how to make any situation fun! Check out our interview below to get more insight into the mind of this music loving go-getter and see what he has learned over the past year about himself, college, and life!
Name: Donovan Roby
Age: 19
Year in school: Sophomore
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Celebrity Crush: Gabrielle Union
Fun Fact: Our first song titled “Truth Is” was aired on WZND 103.3 campus radio and is now at 2000+ views on SoundCloud.
RSO’s: I’m in O.T.O, which is an eight piece band that plays a variety of genres. I’m also in Israel Arts, which is an organization made up of mainly poets, but also has other types of artists like musicians, dancers, and photographers. I’m also apart of Impact Bible Study, a Christian fellowship organization.
Her Campus Illinois State: The transition between freshman and sophomore year may not seem very big, but it is! How do you feel you have changed since freshman year?
Donovan Roby: My transition into sophomore year from freshman year has been a wild one. When I first got here I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do, however college changed me. I realized that responsibility is a major aspect of college life and just doing what you have to do will get you the farthest. So with that, I feel as though I’ve matured a lot and now I have a decent head on my shoulders when it comes to getting work done. As a freshman, I did not really interact with a lot of people; however, I learned that college is all about connections and networking, so as a sophomore I have been building lasting relationships with those around me to better my future here at Illinois State as well as in the real world.
HC ISU: Besides work experience, what have you gained from being a student employee?
DR: Time management skills, responsibility, and how to work with people. Realizing that I have a set schedule helps me manage my time better especially when coming to work and setting up things that need to be done during the day. Working at the front desk in Cardinal Court has also helped me learn how to work with people because people need to come to me for their needs and that allows me to help them.
HC ISU: You are a self-proclaimed music lover! Tell us a little about your love of music, what you do to express it, and what you hope to accomplish.
DR: My love for music could be considered a relationship. It’s the only thing that I know will always be there for me. I am a producer and writer for the music of O.T.O and those songs all express our feelings and experiences. Honestly I do not want to accomplish anything in music specifically, but throughout my life I just want music to stick around.
HC ISU: A lot of people are saying dating and chivalry are dead. What are your thoughts on that?
DR: I know there are a lot of people, whether on this campus or around the world, that feel that chivalry is dead and that men aren’t gentlemen and do not take women seriously. My thought on that is this: Chivalry is not dead; you just have to find the right one. It honestly irks me when I see the way men treat women and even the way women treat men. It just seems that a lot of people do not really know what they want, so they are just “exploring” and nothing works out for them. They just need to find what they want and stick with it!
HC ISU: If you could perform alongside one famous performer, who would it be and why?
DR: Travis Scott. The man is hype. All his live shows are lit.
HC ISU: If you had to choose a theme song for your life, what would it be and why?
DR: Family Business by Kanye West. I am a very family oriented person and the song just speaks to my family and the way we all act.