We recently connected with Sterling Shipp and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sterling thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

When I think of the legacy I, Sterling D’Von Shipp, hope to build, two words comes to mind – “humble service.” Humble service can be defined as dedicating yourself to the cause you believe in, never to give up on the people that are depending on that service you are providing. I believe people will say that my integrity is intact, that most importantly, my character on and off the stage is the same. I strive to be the same Sterling D’Von Shipp when you see me out in public and behind closed doors. I hope to be remembered for being a person that would give just about everything to make sure others are inspired, motivated and directed towards God.

Sterling, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

To begin telling my story, my name is Sterling D’Von Shipp, I am currently 23 years old, soon to be 24 years old. I am the only child and only grand-child on both sides of my family. Usually when I say “only child AND only grand-child” I hear the instantaneous reply, “you must be spoiled.” In all honesty, I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination and I do not shy away from this blessing, being in this family dynamic has heightened my appreciation for family all the more. My journey continues growing up in south Florida, West Palm Beach, FL to be exact, home to the beautiful weather, palm trees, beaches, and the most fascinating people.

After having the opportunity to attend Northboro Elementary School, BAK Middle School of the Arts (majoring in Communication Arts), Palm Beach Gardens High School (Pre-Medicine Magnet Program) and graduating with my Bachelors Degree from the University of Florida (majoring in Health Education and Behavior, Minoring in Anthropology, on the Pre-Medicine Track) I have seen and experienced quite a bit. It was in Elementary School where I discovered my passion for writing. It was in Middle school where I advanced in my passion for public speaking, writing, editing and creating graphics/capturing moments in time. It was in High School that I delved deeper into my passion for people and service. These three moments in my life led me to college, the most exhilarating time of my life.

In college, more specifically at the University of Florida, I gained so much knowledge about myself, my passions, the pre-medicine journey, my love for writing, some of the dynamics of different cultures, creeds, ethnicities, religions etc, and most importantly, I grew in my relationship with Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

All of these life experiences led me to where I am today, a young author of my very first published book entitled, “My Firm Foundation: Transformative Tips for the God-Seeking, College Ready Student,”(www.sterlingdshipp.com). If you are or you know of a student about to go off to college, this book is worth a shot. If you are or you know of a student that is struggling with an addiction or just doesn’t know how to mingle faith with the college experience, this book is worth a shot. If you are or you know of a student that has no relationship with God, or you have a very close relationship with God and your heart is open to receive some TRANSFORMATIVE tips that change your life for the better, this book is worth a shot. Lastly, even if you are not a student, not going off to college and have no kids in your life, the content in the pages of this writing can encourage you beyond your wildest imagination, I would implore you to give this book a shot.

I am also proud to have had the opportunity to pour life and inspiration into the lives of our youth by way of public speaking events, i.e., a High-School graduation (Riviera Beach, FL), a High School Awards Ceremony (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) Scholarship Banquets (throughout South Florida), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfasts (West Palm Beach, FL), City Commission Meetings, Luncheons, just to name a few.
In addition to public speaking, I personally believe that humble service starts when you are able to leave the stages and microphones and put your words into action. Consequently, I have had the opportunity to mentor youth from the ages of 6 – 18. These opportunities have extended from faith-based institutions (St. James Church, Riviera Beach, FL) to college campuses (University of Florida and University of Florida College of Medicine Summer Internship Program, Gainesville, FL) to the Palm Beach County School District (Bak Middle School of the Arts Afterschool Boys Mentorship Program, West Palm Beach, FL).

In addition to being an author, public speaker, youth mentor and aspiring Surgeon, I love to create unique digital content for businesses, individuals and faith-based institutions that want to create a brand, memory and/or capture an experience like none other. My business One Sterling LLC., is focused on expanding the horizons of your brand and bringing light into your world. One Sterling LLC. provides graphic design services such as logo designs, flyer design, business card design, booklet design, banner design and much more (no printing services are included).

It is difficult to pin-point one specific thing that I am proud of, because every day is a blessing in my mind, no matter what happens along the way. I am grateful for the opportunity to have life and grateful for the chance to make a positive impact every chance I get.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an author and creative is that I will really never know who was impacted, how exactly their lives/careers/businesses were changed for the better. Sure, readers of my book may eventually come up to me and say “This quote changed my life, thank you so much!,” but I will never truly understand what that means for them, because I am not living in their experience. The same is true for a client that says, “Thank you for the photoshoot! These photos came out exactly how I thought they would,” or “This flyer/booklet was more than I could have dreamed of for my business, a million times THANK YOU!” I am intensely appreciative of my clients that speak to me in a very transparent manner; their satisfaction is pleasing to the soul. Yet, I will never truly know how exactly they felt at that initial moment of gratitude and thanks, and the mystery in that gives me a great sense of reward, more than I could ever articulate.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In all honesty, the lesson I had to unlearn is how to NOT spend so much time comparing myself to others in my field of creativity. The last time I checked, there isn’t another Sterling D’Von Shipp, but there are many other authors and creatives in the industry of digital design. The backstory of comparing ourselves with others in our creative spaces is simply this, we all do it, at least once a day or multiple times a day. In a interconnected world of technology and social media, we can easily compare ourselves in the film industry, modeling industry, tech industry, restaurant industry, digital design industry and the list goes on and on. It is a part of human nature to want to know how others are doing and then use that data/observation to compare with where we are. Yet, like I stated in my book, “My Firm Foundation: Transformative Tips for the God-Seeking, College Ready Student.,” the question we should ask ourselves is “where does it get you?” How does comparing where I am at in my life, to someone else who is at a different point in their life help or advance me? These questions, which are still being answered in this journey called life is the beginning of why I had to unlearn how to NOT spend so much time comparing myself to others in my field of creativity/career. We all have different lives and different lived experiences, do not be afraid to LIVE and ENJOY LIFE.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sterlingdshipp.com
• Instagram: @sterlingdvon
• Facebook: Sterling D. Shipp
• Linkedin: Sterling Shipp
• Youtube: SterlingDShipp

Image Credits

TaRhonda D. Harvey (https://kolmioglobal.com)