“”Everyone Has a Story”” is a weekly segment in the Arizona Daily Wildcat that aims to tell the story of an interesting person on the UA campus. This week, the Daily Wildcat interviewed its own Laura E. Donovan, a graduating senior who has been a reporter, columnist and editor with the paper. She is also the regular writer of this segment.

At 4 years old, with an upside-down book and a sense of adventure, Donovan knew her passion was in writing.

“”I’ve known since I’ve had a personality that that’s what I wanted to do,”” Donovan said. “”Even before I could read, I had an interest in reading, writing and telling stories. I would run around with books, trying to decipher what was inside the pages.””

“”The runt of the pack”” according to her brother, Donovan was born in Los Angeles, Calif., before moving to northern California at age 9.

Carrying her “”Harriet the Spy”” composition notebooks, a young Donovan wrote constantly, but about “”nothing high brow,”” throughout her childhood.

Writing has always carried her through.

“”I’ve always been positive. I know how to get through certain situations,”” she said.

Her high school experience defined her. Her friends pushed her to get involved in track and field and student government. She also experienced tragedy — her father’s death on the morning of her senior prom. However, it was her arrival at the UA that determined her current life path.

“”I would read the Wildcat every day,”” Donovan said. “”I thought those columnists were so talented, they were so funny and so witty. So sophomore year, I decided to apply. That’s when I knew I was ready.””

Donovan began weekly column writing and was excited to see her work in print.

The summer after her sophomore year, spent in Washington, D.C., would be yet another defining experience.

“”My dad lived in New York City until he was 30. He was a taxi driver during college, and I just remember when I was little going with my dad and seeing his city,”” she said, “”but then I went to D.C. and thought ‘This is my city.’ New York is his place and now, this is my place.””

Donovan pursued an internship for two months, living at American University and working 40 hours a week. She was initially apprehensive, but, after settling into the city, learned a lot about herself and about where she needed to go.

“”I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, I can’t do this,’ as soon as I moved to American University,”” she said. “”I couldn’t sleep the first two nights I was there.””

Her experience there shaped her future — Donovan said after college she wants to move to D.C., to be the next David Sedaris and live in “”her city.””

“”Even if now I’m a little bit scared in going to D.C., but I’ll be fine once I’m there,”” she said.

A winner of the Clyde Lowery award for contributions to the Arizona Daily Wildcat, Donovan is thankful for the experiences and excited about the future.

“”I have known to do all the things that I wanted to do since I was young, but (the Wildcat) was my canvas to write whatever I wanted. I don’t think I could have done this at any other university or college paper.””

Donovan will graduate with a bachelor of arts in non-fiction creative writing this month.