Matt Donovan

SFS ’17
Age: 19
Hometown: Westwood, Mass.
Major: Undeclared

What do you hope to get out of Georgetown?
First, I’d like to be a generally wiser person and to know more about the world, and second, to have the tools necessary to succeed in life.

And do you think you’re on you’re way to that? What are some things you’d point to as moving you in that direction?
I think I am. It’s going to take a while for me to feel like I’m prepared to succeed, but I think I’m getting there. If I had to point to a class, I really like “Map of the Modern World” with James Reardon-Anderson. I think he’s incredible. I’d like to be able to know what he knows at some point in my life. If I could emulate that, I’d love that. I’m also a part of the Student Advocacy Office, so that’s a quasi-career club that I’m really interested in and I think is really helpful for me. I just joined recently, and when a student gets written up or has a disciplinary issue, they go to the SAO and try to get advice on the student code, and we also try to change things about the disciplinary process.

What would you say your favorite class has been that you’ve taken at Georgetown so far?
It’s probably “International Relations” with professor Lieber. He doesn’t try to hide what he thinks. He gives us that and also counterarguments, and that’s very interesting. I also think it’s relevant to what I’m interested in so it gets the juices flowing a little bit.

If you could lead a protest on any one thing what would it be?
Definitely drone use. I’m really against drones for a number of reasons. I think they don’t work. I think they’re brutal. I think they make us numb to war. I think they’re callous and ineffective.

What would you say the hardest thing you’ve ever done is?
It was probably breaking up with my girlfriend as a result of coming here. That’s probably it. I can’t think of anything else off the top of my head. It was really awkward, and it was really difficult. It sucked.

What would you say is the most important thing you’ve learned at Georgetown?
Probably to not give in to stress. I’ve been temped to do it a couple times and stop, but I think if you hang tight everything resolves itself, and that’s something I’ve learned here.

What is the best thing about Georgetown?
The student body is awesome, and, second, the fields of study that we’re good at are awesome as well.

And what could Georgetown do better?
I think we could probably work to have a better arts scene. I think there’s a lot of interesting stuff to do if you’re an athletic-type kid, and I don’t know if people that are interested in fine arts find the same opportunities. They might be a bit estranged here. 

Interview by Ben Germano