Donovan Ramgahan

SPEAKERS: Alexis Silva, Donovan Ramgahan

SILVA: My name is Alexis Silva, with the Covid Oral History Project at Wells College. Today's date is April 15, 2022. I am in Dodge with--

RAMGAHAN: Donovan Ramgahan.

SILVA: This is an unrehearsed, recorded interview. Thank you for joining us today, Donovan.

RAMGAHAN: You're welcome.

SILVA:: So first I'm going to ask some background questions.

RAMGAHAN: Of course.

SILVA: I'd like to begin by getting to know more about your background. Could you start by telling us about yourself; your full name, date of birth and where you were born.

RAMGAHAN: Okay. A little background about myself. My full name is Donovan Ramgahan. I grew up and I was born in Bronx New York. And my date of birth is 10/18/2003. October 18th 2003.

SILVA: Where did you live growing up; how was it there and how is it similar or different from Aurora.

RAMGAHAN: I grew up in the Bronx, it is the city life. It is very much so different than Aurora because Aurora is a very suburban place. I have found it that the culture is different and the whole lifestyle in general is different.

SILVA: Is there anything specific you like about living there, that isn't usually in other places.

RAMGAHAN: What I do like about the city is that you know the thing is everything is so close to earth other and you're able to go and explore and you know just like if you ever need food or anything they're very, all the food spots and everything are close to each other and basically you don't have to travel far to get what you need.

SILVA: Interesting, interesting. So, who do you consider to be your family and can you tell us about your family?

RAMGAHAN: I consider my family to be my mom, my dad and sister. Why is the question why?

SILVA: Can you tell us some things about your family?

RAMGAHAN: My family--

SILVA:: Or family members if you'd like.

RAMGAHAN: Okay yeah so basically my dad and mom you know are the best parents they helped you know raise me and my little sister. My dad worked and my mom worked, they both work and basically they're the hardest working parents that I know and I've learned a lot I've gotten a lot of traits and a lot of common skills learned from them. And they help me basically grow into the person that I am today. My little sister, she is the sweetest thing on the earth, and you know she is very articulate she is very smart and intellectual, she knows how to speak she does a lot of journaling, she's also into acting she's basically gonna be a very successful person.

SILVA: Interesting, interesting. Any fun facts about yourself you'd like to tell us?

RAMGAHAN: I'm just, just a kid tryna achieve his dreams and go to the NBA. I play in the Wells College basketball team. And I'm looking forward to you know just achieving my goals and dreams through business as well because I'm a business major here at Wells. And I'm also looking you know forward to achieving my dreams when it comes to basketball and getting to the NBA.

SILVA: Goodluck, good luck with that. So, tell us about who you lived with when you were growing up. Who were you especially close with?

RAMGAHAN: I lived with my mom and dad, my sister also wasn't born at the time. I lived with my mom, dad and my grandpa. We all lived In a house in the Bronx and you know I grew up with them and my grandpa was basically my best friend because he helped take care of me a lot when you know my mom and dad had to work. Basically he was my role model in my life.

SILVA: What were you like as a child, and if you can recall a special memory, please share that with us.

RAMGAHAN: I was you know a little bit of a trouble maker back in the you know as 00:03:00a child I was, you know I got into some trouble you know I used to you know I was that little kid around the block just tryna look for some trouble but you know one special, fond memory of mine is that always something that I always took with me and that's what became one of my hobbies was my grandpa every single weekend would drive me and we would go to Rhode island to fish on a beach and you know I would just sit there with him and fish and although we would catch nothing it was just spending that time with him that really counted and meant a lot, that meant a lot to me.

SILVA: Would you like to share anything else, any other special memories?

RAMGAHAN: I can say you know I made a lot, a lot of special memories you know.

SILVA: Do you have any memories with Ava because I remember you talking about her.

RAMGAHAN: Oh of course yes with Ava you know I remember her as a little bean and I was you know a little child and you know she was just a little baby I helped take care of her a lot you know she was one of the first of many little babies that I had to take care of in my life you know. I helped you know change her diaper you know cared for her feed her basically help raise her and you know always been there for her no matter the circumstances of anything and I love her to death and I will always be there for her and you know she means a lot to me and I know shell go a far way in this, in this world and ill help her get to where she needs to go.

SILVA: That's so sweet of you Donovan. So, lets jump ahead in time to when you started thinking about college when did you first start thinking about going to college?

RAMGAHAN: I first started thinking about going to college when you know it was about my 8th grade to 9th grade transition my you know my middle school transition to my high school transition which was you know about 8th to 9th grade. That's when I really started to think about college. I played sports I played you know baseball before I played basketball of course and then when I really started to you know think about college is when I fell in love with basketball because I was like this is my dream and I see where you know a lot of NBA basketballs came , NBA basketball players came from and they came from college , college basketball. And I want to get there, I want to play college basketball and you know just make sure my academics is where it needs to be .

SILVA: Did you have like any schools in mind when applying or not really.

RAMGAHAN: I had plenty of schools and I got accepted into plenty of schools I also had, major you know D1 interests, and I had D2 offers to go to higher level schools then here at Wells College. But you know a lot of things happen in the 00:06:00time span of covid and the pandemic. I was accepted into a lot of schools that I applied for. I was gonna go to West Point, I got accepted into Columbia, I got accepted into Yale, I got accepted into.. I think it was Virginia Tech, and I got denied though from Texas, Texas state. But there was a lot of, a lot of colleges that were pretty interested in me then when the pandemic hit you know a lot of them they just pulled away and I had a lot more D3 offers for basketball so.

SILVA: Cool. What expectations did you have for what college would be like?

RAMGAHAN: My expectations was you know it was it fit to the standard the narrative the expectations that I had you know in high school and everything it was almost like very similar you know you have all the things that you know you would expect in college. I went form a really big public high school I went to a public high school with my freshman-sophmore year with 4000 kids to being recruited for basketball to a prep school with only 600 kids. And then that preparatory school they prepare you for college, so you know a lot of the students there you know everything that basically happened my junior and senior year was just as what it would be at college and my expectations where you know fitting the narrative and I, you know knew what the basics would be and how hard you know the life can be sometimes and the lifestyle because you have to stay focused and be very very motivated and disciplined when it comes to your studies when it comes to your lifestyle when It comes to being healthy especially mentally and physically. Because as a student athlete you know the mental aspect of that it can be very draining and tough on a student, but if you know you have the right time management the right skill set for all of that, you'll be okay and then that's how it was for me.

SILVA: When did you first hear about Wells College.

RAMGAHAN: I first heard about Wells College when it was my senior year. I didn't have basketball season in a sense where I was able to play because you know it was a very short season they had maybe about 5 games and also I had you know conversations with coach and everything and it just didn't make any sense for me to play especially during covid. My parents were very you know scared about sending me out during covid and you know contracting the virus because at the time you know it was a very deadly and scary virus and they didn't you know people didn't know what it was. But it was mainly my senior year because I was going on zoom calls and I was reaching out to I don't know I reached out to 170 colleges just to play college basketball. Although I already had those D3 offers already set In stone for me but I started reaching out to as much colleges as I can even though I couldn't play basketball and I was doing a zoom. I was being recruited from Suny Esf which is right next to Syracuse university, and through 00:09:00that the coach at Wells College coach Wogo, heard about me and whatever it was and you know from there that's how we figured things out. And this was about right before I think it was in February my senior year.

SILVA: What made you decide to come to Wells?

RAMGAHAN: What made me decide to come to Wells was that you know of course I wanted to you know get my, my degree in business and I wanted to you know to focus on you know setting up myself with a great career. I also you know came for basketball of course because you know I that's my dream and everything but I always make sure I have a plan b set for me. So that was basically my main reason you know student athlete you know student first and then athlete 2nd.

SILVA: What was the experience you were hoping to have at Wells?

RAMGAHAN: You know I ran into some adversities. You know I expected you know some different you know outcomes here at Wells. I'm not gonna get too much into it but you know I ran into you know some issues and you know adversities but I pulled through and I was able to get through it but I wouldn't change anything for what it is, and that really wasn't you know an issue I'm just gonna you know I have to work hard you know I was set back you know with injury an injury and whatever it was but I only could push myself harder and harder and work harder to get to where I have to go and no one can stop me on that.

SILVA: What did you plan to study when you started college?

RAMGAHAN: I planned to study business of course my parents always told me that there's such a wide spectrum in business where you know it's such a competitive market but you know you can be really successful because there's so many opportunities and careers that you can go along you know the lines of business. And I also planned on you know, you know which I'm gonna do is get a sports marketing minor so that way because you know I'm in love withs sports and everything and basketball so if I can go along being an agent or whatever it is that's a career with sports that will also help me out a lot.

SILVA: What is your current major and year?

RAMGAHAN: My current major is business marketing. Basically you know I'm a first year or a freshman as you know they would say but I'm a first year here at Wells College and I'm just a business major who's you know.

SILVA: What were people around, sorry. Why have you decided on this major? I guess you kind of explained that.

RAMGAHAN: Same thing I'll say it again. Basically you know I decided on this major because there's so many opportunities and careers that you could choose from to go along. but I already have a basic understanding , a basic knowledge of where I wanna go along the lines of business and where I wanna take it you know. And I really think I can be very successful, especially with basketball and using that as my, financial tool and everything or just a tool to make connections with business.

SILVA: What do you plan to do after college?

RAMGAHAN: I plan to play in bas--play basketball professionally. Whether you know the opportunity arises that I play overseas first to get to the NBA or if I get into the NBA which would be such a grateful opportunity for myself but, knowing the position I'm in and I have to look at the reality of everything that I have to just work 10 times harder where I wanna go and I have to basically get it how I have to and so I'm most likely gonna go along overseas but I know that I'm gonna be playing pro basketball.

SILVA: Well, I hope you accomplish your dreams Donovan.

RAMGAHAN: Thankyou Alexis.

SILVA: let's turn to the pandemic now, when did you hear about covid 19 for the first time?

RAMGAHAN: I heard about covid 19 when schools basically closed down. I think it was in march I don't, I think It was 2020 when it started, I think It was march 2020. I could be wrong because you know I've lost track of time with all of this but I've , that's when I first heard it, everyone said that you know were gonna go on a break they were gonna give us like basically like a spring break about it like you know a week or two off and then from there that was that.

SILVA: What did you think about covid at the time?

RAMGAHAN: I thought it was a blessing in disguise it gave me more of an opportunity to do a lot more working out a lot more focusing with my sport because you know all my class's were more easier, I can be you know at the gym or whatever it was after you know I had a break between my classes. So, I was always you know working out of course you know I made sure I kept my studies and everything but it, to me it was a blessing because it got me to where I am now, but you know it was also a curse at the same time.

SILVA: And how was it a curse Donovan?

RAMGAHAN: Basically because you know the opportunity and my windows closed on me and it closed for a lot of athletes and a lot of opportunities closed for a lot of athletes you know they planned on playing basketball planned on, playing sports in general basically covid you know screwed up all that for a lot of athletes. And I would say that it did but it definitely did build my character it built my..it built my character for sure to learn through the obstacles of covid, because everything was closed down.

SILVA: I'm sorry to hear that. So, what were people around you saying about covid at the time?

RAMGAHAN: That you know that it's a deadly virus, stay inside, wear your mask if you're going out, don't go outside. Basically, everyone was very scared of the virus because in New York city and everything during the time the cases had skyrocketed through the roof and we got like one of the highest like amount of cases I guess in like the nation at one point. So, there was just like in hospitals, and I have a family member who works in the medical field I have two family members that work in the medical field and they were just packed with thousands of patients in the hospital with covid. So, they were telling us to stay inside and that its very scary, people are dying so that's what I was being told.

SILVA:: How did you feel about these initial conversations that were happening regarding covid?

RAMGAHAN: At the time I was just you know , you know of course I'm very young and I you know a little bit stubborn you know, I can be stubborn sometimes about it but you know but I was basically like I was basically like you know. I'm sorry can you repeat the question?

SILVA: How did you feel about these initial conversations that were happening regarding covid?

RAMGAHAN: I really didn't care to be honest you know I knew that I had to play basketball and I had to get it because basketball was an escape route for me through a lot of pain and struggle that I've dealt through my life it was like, like therapy for me basically and I you know. love the game and it was just, best thing for me to do so I didn't really care what people were saying.

SILVA: When did you know that covid was turning into something serious?

RAMGAHAN: I knew it was turning into something serious you know when a lot of people were scared you could see it in their faces, a lot of parents were keeping their kids home. And you know it was just that's when I knew it was starting to get serious and the amount of cases and numbers were like skyrocketing through the roof.

SILVA: And how did you feel about this?

RAMGAHAN: With me I was like you know it was very hard because I understood my parents' perspective but at the young age too I didn't really you know like I said I was a little stubborn because I knew that I had to get to where I had to go with basketball and without me being stubborn and doing what I was doing I wouldn't end up here playing D3 basketball at Wells College.

SILVA: So, were you a student at Wells when the pandemic began?

RAMGAHAN: No, I was not a student at Wells when the pandemic began.

SILVA: What did you think when spring break was extended?

RAMGAHAN: I thought it was great I was like you know I get a lot more time off I can like get on my video game get on with my friends and you know a lot of my friends and us we, you know we basically you know played the game and everything and it was just a great time was going out to play basketball and just living my life to the fullest with my car.

SILVA: What did you think when classes went online?

RAMGAHAN: I thought it was like cool at first I was like , I was like you know hey this is new opportunity. I can stay home I can sleep in you know I don't have to wake up so early because when I was going to school at the time I had to wake up extra early because it was about an hour away from where I lived. And I had to drive about 20 minutes to the bus, and the bus would go about 45 minutes, so I would leave probably around 5 in the morning. I would have to get to the bus around 6 and basically then get on the bus and then it would be about 7 . I had to do that every single day and we had our basketball season too. And when I would come home maybe at like 3, 4 in the morning and then I'd have class and tests that same day and just had to do it and had homework and everything along those lines, just get it done.

SILVA: Where were you when lock down started?

RAMGAHAN: I was, I can't really say where was I because I was out a lot and you know I was just you know just living the best life that I can before everything started to close down.

SILVA: Who did you spend lockdown with?

RAMGAHAN: I spent lockdown with my mom, dad , sister. Yeah that's all the people I spent it with .

SILVA: Did you have any significant others?

Ramgahan: I don't think that's part of the question.

SILVA: It is part of the question, It says..

RAMGAHAN: Where?

SILVA: Who did you spend lockdown with?

RAMGAHAN: That's not, that's no comment I will say no comment during that time but you know I hanged out with my best friend his name is Eddie as well.

SILVA: Good answer. How did your life change during lockdown?

RAMGAHAN: It changed a lot , it made me-- It was very hard on me because you know my dreams and everything I wanted to do with basketball were starting to close down on me and I worked really hard every single day and I'm a very determined person to get to where I have to go. And as I saw those dreams starting to fade away, you know I still didn't give up but it was a very hard time with me mentally. I wouldn't say you know, that you know it was like the end of the world for me but it was very hard, I had to push through a lot of adversity a lot of struggles and I just had to get through it.

SILVA: What was your daily life like and routine during lockdown?

RAMGAHAN: Basically my daily life and routine which was pretty insane, and I was just pushing it. My daily life was that you know I had class in the morning but I worked out before class started in the morning because I didn't have to wake up so early so I used that time, cause I was so used to the routine of waking up early at that time you know I was just, work out, do my cardio and do all those things. And then when I had my break between my classes I would work out there so it was around 12 am. So I work out at that time and then I would work out in the afternoon which I was doing about 3 workouts literally every single day when lockdown was. And I was pushing my body to the limits, and I started to see major improvements. I basically, in the span of the lockdown I was 165 when it started and then span of 5 months I went all the way up to 195 of all that working out I did. And I was going out you know and you know I went to the mall and stuff. I just you know tried to you know get away from everything you know they you know there was parties to but you know I just, did what I did to have fun.

SILVA: What challenges did you and others around you face?

RAMGAHAN: You know we faced you know a lot of arguments because I had to be around you know we had to be around each other so much and you know family friends, well close people of course. It was just you know it was pretty tough you know because you know you're so used to the school routine where you go to school and everything but you're seeing the same person every single day. Well the same people every single day and you know it just lead to you know some arguments or whatever it was. But you know everyone had their own struggles that they were dealing with at the time.

SILVA: How did you overcome these challenges?

RAMGAHAN: How did I overcome these challenges. Basically, I did you know I went through a lot during the pandemic. I really did, that's when my documentary comes out, ill speak about the specifics, the specific details of course. But, how I pushed through was, i just kept working and I kept working hard and I kept pushing myself because I knew no one was gonna push me and be there for me during the times that I was going through. So you know, I would appreciate you not taking okay okay, and-- I apologize so back on topic you know I just kept pushing and I kept you know thinking of my dreams and seeing the vision and I just fell in love with the process of everything I was doing.

SILVA: Were there any unexpected benefits that emerged for you during lockdown?

RAMGAHAN: Yeah I mean I saw job opportunities and you know I started doing investing, financial investing and everything. And I also you know worked out a lot I was pushing myself and I was going to the gym and basically you know I saw the benefits of those because it helped out my body so much so yeah.

Silva: In what ways did the pandemic impact you as a college student?

RAMGAHAN: Before or after?

SILVA: Both, actually after, after.

RAMGAHAN: After, after the pandemic.

SILVA: Actually, both yeah.

RAMGAHAN: You want both okay so before, it was the struggle was aw man you know I'm only gonna be playing D3 basketball which in every sense I'm so grateful for the opportunity that's given to me and I'm so blessed with everything although you know the adversities that I faced in college already. But it was just it was hard on me it was really hard because I was dealing with other matters in my life and I was going through a very dark time in my life and it was very hard for me the before, the before process of the pandemic because the pandemic sucked and a lot of people can say that it sucked. After, you know it was just like you know I saw that you know so many people became antisocial because everyone got stuck to social media and their phones, and I'm the type pf person that likes to hang out with people, go out because I mean I was doing that somewhat in the pandemic and you know I was hanging out with people. But I'm just that type of person that likes to be around people, talk to them, conversate just go out have a good time chill and do those types of things but a lot of people got stuck to their phones and they became very anti-social and you see after you know trying to make friends and make those connections with people, people kind of like shut down and they don't know how to speak to each other. And then you know I would say that was one of the main things after.

SILVA: Did any unexpected benefits or opportunities emerge as a result of the pandemic?

RAMGAHAN: I would say me learning how to do financial investing. It helped out a lot where you know it taught me how to make money and everything you know and there was a lot of benefits where it was like what I just said was just being able to work out a lot, doing what I love to do and, and basically you know just staying focused and taking my sister out and we would go out and you know just party and stuff.

SILVA: That's so cute. Several political protests took place during this period. Many had to do

with covid but others were associated with black lives matter and other social movements. Did you or others around you participate in these protests?

RAMGAHAN: No, I'm the type of person who's gonna you know during the time of everything that was happening with all these protests and everything. I sat on the sidelines and just watched everything play out because as I focus on everything and the career I wanna go down, I wanna make sure I have the platform and I have you know basically the fame and the wealth to speak along the lines of you know when it comes to equal rights and whatever you know comes along with that so you know I stood out of it and you know I just watched everything play out.

SILVA: Can you tell us about that experience?

RAMGAHAN: I thought that you know I didn't really have an opinion on everything that was going on I was just thought you know like it was just like blown away that all of this was just happening because we're as a whole as like you know as the whole world was going through a global pandemic you know all the protesting and that stuff while that was happening it was just leaning more stress and more you know more problems that you know at the time I didn't think was necessary through the protests.

SILVA: Were you engaged in these discussions or topics in other ways outside of protesting?

RAMGAHAN: No I was never engaged in any of these subjects of the matter because I'm more of a very self-opinionated and I'm more to myself when it comes to these things, because I've learned in this day and age that you know you say-- if you say things in a certain way it can really mess up your future and your career and you need to learn how to speak about these certain subjects and educate yourself about these subjects and as a person that's me that's staying out of this until he gets his fame and you know reaches his goals and he's up there, I'm just gonna be sitting on the side lines because I think that's what's best.

SILVA: Interesting, now I'd like-- now id likr to know your personal experience with covid. These questions will focus on illness and possibly bring up grief and other challenging topics. Remember, we can skip any questions that make you uncomfortable.

RAMGAHAN: Sounds good.

SILVA: Did illness impact you and your family?

RAMGAHAN: I would say that no our whole family didn't get covid I would say my mom my dad and sister we all managed to stay away from covid but everyone else in my family like my grandma and stuff and you know a lot of my family did get covid. And I've had a family member actually die because of covid.

SILVA: How did this personal experience with covid impact your outlook on the pandemic?

RAMGAHAN: It really just opened up my eyes you know I wasn't really close to that family member of the subject. But you know of course you know it's always hard losing loved ones and of course you know that, it's just terrible to do that. And it opened up my eyes seeing you know that this is a very you know say thing that you know that's happening during this time and a lot of people are dying and you know a lot of people are just getting sick you know and people weren't just following the rules. And I just thought it was you know a sad thing to be going through.

SILVA: Looking back on those experiences what do you take away from them?

RAMGAHAN: I take away that you know never take anything for granted because you never know what's gonna happen in the future. I didn't know that I would be at, I would end up here being interviewed by you Alexis but I'm very grateful for the opportunity and I want to thank you for that. But just never take anything for granted and you know just keep moving forward keep pushing no matter the circumstances of how hard your life is because if you don't you'll just be ordinary.

SILVA: Are you ordinary?

RAMGAHAN: I don't know Alexis am I ordinary?

Silva: I don't know. Now that vaccines are available and cases are decreasing life is closer to things, to how things were prior to the pandemic. How do you think that transition is going?

RAMGAHAN: Can you repeat that question one more time?

SILVA: Now that vaccines are available and cases are decreasing life is closer to how things were prior to the pandemic. How do you think that transition is going?

RAMGAHAN: I think that it's going good and basically that you know we just have to keep doing what we're doing as a society and as a whole. And I think that life can somewhat go back to normal and you know well be okay.

SILVA: How will you make decisions about masks and such when the mandates lift?

RAMGAHAN: When the mandates lift I will most likely not be wearing my mask because I'm pretty much sick of it. And basically I just want to live my life normally and you know just go back to normal to what I was doing and just you know enjoy life.

SILVA: What lessons or knowledge have you gained over the past 3 years of the pandemic that you will take with you into the future?

RAMGAHAN: I took that you know-- work hard you know stay disciplined, and enjoy the time you have around others while you still can.

SILVA: As we conclude this interview are there any topics you expected or hoped that we would cover but that we have not addressed today?

RAMGAHAN: No, I would say, can you say that question on more time I'm sorry.

SILVA: As we conclude this interview are there any topics you expected or hoped that we would cover that we have not addressed today?

RAMGAHAN: No, I think you know we're addressing you know basic you know global events that are gonna go down in history. And I don't think you need to address anything else.

SILVA:: Are there any topics in our conversation that you would like to revisit?

RAMGAHAN: There is no topics I would like to revisit.

SILVA: Well Donovan thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

RAMGAHAN: You're welcome, Alexis. Thank you for having me.

TRANSCRIPTION: Alexis Silva 04-15-2022