Meet Donovan E.C. Bethea - A Student's Perspective on the GlobalMindED Conference
My name is Donovan E.C. Bethea. I am a business administration student at North Carolina A&T State University with an expected graduation date in May 2025. I am blessed to be an engaged community leader not only at home but on my campus as well as to affect and encourage individuals through different programs I participate in. This year I had the wonderful opportunity of attending the 2022 GlobalMindED Conference in Denver.
What is your personal narrative? What challenges and major life moments have led you to where you are?
I am an educated black male who comes from a predominately white suburban area. I grew up with the standard of being the only black kid in the class and often times the only black person invited to some tables. Throughout my high school career, I developed a talent for being able to provide people accessibility to share their story, truth and to speak for themselves instead of through a representative. Without even fully understanding, I was producing an equitable environment where students got what they needed. Deciding to go to an HBCU was a no-brainer for me due to the fact I simply wanted to be around people who I knew would not judge me based on the color of my skin but off the genuine content of my character. I wanted to be looked at and held accountable by people who looked just like me and were just as hungry as me.
What dreams and goals do you have for your future?
My future consists of success. Often times people look at success as their financial situation or even certain positions they look forward to seeing themselves in but for me, success is much bigger than myself. Success is how I'll be able to affect others and how my actions will put them in a better position whether intentional or not.
How has being a part of the GlobalMindED community impacted you? How do you hope to continue growing and learning from this inclusive community?
Being part of the global-minded Community has impacted me positively by providing a network so much larger than what I'll be able to see on campus, as well as showing me individuals who believe in the same skill sets and morals as myself and seeing them be able to use it everyday professionally, in a corporate environment. I think this is very important because I only want to surround myself with individuals and companies that I think are morally tied to what I also believe in. I think this will truly allow for a beneficial impact of those who surround me.
What do you need from your community to be supported and transition into an inclusive professional?
Support. Whether that be through scholarships or just throwing my name and certain rooms that I would never be in myself otherwise. Or just believing in me. I think one of the biggest things for a first-generation students is support and making sure they know that no matter what it is they need there is a way to make sure it gets done. A big thing for myself has been learning from my mistakes and what is most critical about learning from those is the support that is around me when I make those mistakes. I think this alters how a student views themselves and the path that they are attempting to go down when they are professionally supplying themselves with tools that they know they will need.
In addition to all the wonderful resources I've been provided one of the greatest resources I've been able to have has been Carol Carter and Ken Epps. Although they may not realize the effect they've had on my life it has helped me in tremendous ways. I don't think I would be anywhere near where I am today without their guidance and support and help. Just the overall belief in that I meant for something much greater is something that I cannot describe and I appreciate it and all they've done for me every step of the way.
