Always thinking of the next move or even moves ahead allows for great strategy when thinking of career or personal goals. Recent graduate and avid chess player, Davonte Ellis says the game has taught him to think about his next step so that he can reach his goals.
Ellis graduated from Dinwiddie County High School with a 4.11 grade point average. He says senior year was overall easy, but he learned a few things about procrastination that made it a little harder for him. However, he says he will try harder in college to stay on task. “If I can, I am going to always try to start something early so that way I can always have time to finish it up or edit it,” Ellis said.
While at Dinwiddie County High, Ellis participated in the National Honor Society (NHS), Scholastic Bowl Team, show choir, and was president of the chess club. He enjoys the game of chess so much he started the chess club while attending Dinwiddie. Ellis says chess is one of his favorite games to play, and he’s been hooked on it ever since he played the game as a child with his grandfather. “As I grew up, I wanted to share this passion of mine, so I started the chess club at my school, where anyone could come and play or learn how to play,” he wrote in his personal essay.
Along with his school endeavors, Ellis participated heavily in his church, Rock Church of Petersburg, as a member of the “Integritee” youth choir and media at the church.
While giving his all, in and out of school, Ellis strives to be the best he can be. He says his parents are the people who motivate him to excel in school and in his personal life. “I would probably say my parents, even though that’s cliché,” he said. “They have always pushed me to do my best since I was a kid.”
This August, Ellis will be attending George Mason University where he will be majoring in computer science. He says he would like to become a video game designer.
Ellis says George Mason is a good fit since they have a great computer science program, and the location is great for internships and jobs since it is close to the D.C. area. He also says a degree in computer science will allow him to do something else with his coding skills if he doesn’t become a designer. This is a prime example of his strategic thinking ahead and planning about his future. Ellis seems ready to embark on his new “game,” which is college.
