Editor: William Akin from DESU's The Hive
Olivia Deshaay Matthews is a freshman here at Delaware State University majoring in Environmental Science. Many people don’t know that besides being SGA Recording Secretary for the class of 2025, and wearing edgy and trendy outfits to school, she is also an amazing poet on Instagram. Under her page @shaaywrites, she opens about her personal life including her journey of mental, emotional, and physical healing. She is an also an advocate for social, political, and climate change. As an environmental science major, she wants to reduce the carbon footprint in the world by the changing the harsh industries of fast fashion. As a fashionista herself, she realized she cannot fully appreciate her clothing if she knows the creators behind the fabrics are struggling in harsh labor. I got the chance to interview Olivia this week about college, herself, and her life goals.
Q: What lead you to pursue Environmental Science as a major?
A: I took it because I’ve always been interested in the environment, and I feel like until we solve the problems, and the environment around us, it’s hard for us to fight for other things. I care about other causes like ethical fashion and social justice. Basically, the great cause is going to be uniting everyone to fight for our common home, and then we can fight the other issues.
Q: So, you are the Recording Secretary of SGA. Why did you want to be a part of SGA?
A: Even since middle school, it’s something that I really wanted to do. As soon as I could get involved in my community, I knew that I wanted to. When I was younger, I would stand up in front of my family, and practice preaching and stuff like that. Obviously being in government isn’t preaching, but there is still a kind of service of bettering the community around me. As I said in my interview for it, I wanted to meet new people. It’s honestly just like one big family because you meet a whole bunch of new people.
Q: I really like your poetry on Instagram. What inspired you to write poetry?
A: There’s a lot of things. That’s a hard question. Just from growing up. Seeing a lot of things. Seeing a lot of mental health things in my family. Poetry is a very vulnerable thing. Like if you were to read through Instagram all my poems, you would know a lot about me. Sometimes I get scared because strangers know I struggle with how I miss my mom, or how my dad is out of my life. I’m grieving, but at the same time that’s the power in it. You can’t say you want to get rid of the mental health stigma, and then be afraid or shame yourself for being vulnerable or emotional. It’s such a powerful force. When I was younger, I didn’t speak up for myself. I didn’t know how to advocate for myself. Poetry really taught me before I could speak and say ‘Hey, this is what I need. This is what I want.’ It is also an outlet to have when you’re stressed. Poems just play in my head on repeat.
Q: Who are some artists, musicians, or poets that inspired you?
A: Maya Angelou. Her work has really been inspiring. There are some other Instagram poets I follow like Jasmine Sims. She lost her father too. When she writes poems like that, it connects to me, and that’s the beauty of it too. It’s nice to find people with common interests, but when you find people going through the same things, and you empower each other.
Q: What motivated you to go to college?
A: It’s powerful to know so much. When Malcolm X was in jail, all he did was read books, and that’s how he got so smart. It’s powerful to put yourself in a position. Especially since I go here for free on a scholarship. It’s a blessing to put myself in a position to know so much. Right now, it seems like a bunch of random stuff, but I’m going to apply it to my life and career where I will be helping people and the environment, so it all plays out into how knowledge really is power in the end.
Q: Any last things you want to say (student advice)?
A: Honestly, I would just say, even if you’re in college, and you don’t know what to do, a good step is to think about how you want to help people. Think about what causes you want to help and find your voice. Find a balance between work and school. It’s hard to find that balance, but you’ll put yourself in a position where the future ‘you’ will be proud. I have rest days, and I have days where I’m on the go. Make sure to have that balance and ask yourself ‘Are you okay? Are you okay?’ so that your future is okay too.
Q: What impact do you want to make in the world?
A: I want to make people feel at home. I don’t want my kids to worry about the air quality, wear a thousand masks, or wonder whether they can see certain sights their mom saw growing up. I want to create my own fashion line or learn more about sustainable fashion. Making sure where we get our clothes from is more ethnical. It’s never going to be perfect, but more ethical. What impact I want to make? Honestly, you never know what someone is going through. I want to give light, hope, and inspiration because we all keep each other going. The more you make connections, the more you realize that. My friends keep me going, my family keeps me going, but at the same time I keep them going. I’m proud of me. I’m proud of them. Even if you’re not in a million orgs, doing a million things, or volunteering at a million places, make sure to represent your best self and your best information.
Make sure to follow Olivia’s poetry page @shaaywrites on Instagram.
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