Distinguished Gentleman of the Month: Dontre' Thomas

Don Thomas, Texas State University/ May 2019/ Journalism, IG: @_kuwtdt Twitter: @_suaveswole, Texas State’s ASO/PAAC/TTP

1.        What does "Distinguished Gentleman" mean to you?

          My definition of a Distinguished Gentleman, is any man with a presence who has done or is     doing something in his life that has impacted someone around them to change, inspire, or evoke something great in their lives.

Dontre' Thomas

     

2          2. What is your brand and how did you get started? (If you do not have a brand, you could talk about moves you’ve made to make a difference in your community, job/career, etc and how it has helped you)

I’d like to think that I am my brand. Everything that I’ve ever done in my life and plan on doing in concerns of performing, athletically, theatrically, and artistically are helping me build myself to be the best I can be possible. All of that just to be able to share it and help others extend their talents and themselves as well. And the best explanation I can give now is that I’m not just an older brother, I’m the older brother and I want the sky to be the limit for my siblings.

     3.  What is your dream goal and how do you plan on achieving it?

A dream goal I have is to simply inspire someone else to do something in their lives that’ll do the same for someone else’s. I want my work and my narratives to evoke reflective thought and change in the world we live in. I plan on achieving this by sharing my life experiences and art at any  opportunity granted.  

4.  Name a moment that you feel helped shape you into the young man that you are today.

In high school I was being on self-criticism, and perfectionism. After seeing and learning that no man but Christ was able to achieve the extremes I tried to concur myself it helped me learn that He was the only unwavering existence I had in my life when football, theater and everything else that was going “perfect” wasn’t anymore.

       5.  Name a person (dead or alive) that you look up to & why?

Will Smith, solely because of who is as a person, an actor, and a father. Yeah, I’ve never met him but from what I’ve seen on the outside looking in he has character of what iconic, humanitarianism, happiness, and authority look like.

2    6. When it comes to being a man, what do you feel should be the three core values that a gentleman should uphold?

Admirable, Confident, & Tenacious

2    7.What is a quote that live by and how do you live up to it?

“You are your own worst enemy, and biggest advocate” – Author Unknown

I live up to this quote by constantly reminding myself that the world is as small and/or as big as I make it, so it’s up to me to defy odds and not let odds defy me.

2    8. Piece of advice that you would give to young men of color who do not believe in themselves or lack role models?

Self -doubt and self-discipline both come from within, you must take initiative of your own life and decisions become confident in yourself in all that you say and do and then build yourself to become

your own role model. Build an expectation for yourself, don’t meet one.

Don's art exhibit held at Texas State University in March 2018.