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DJ Haskins

Sarah Pentecost Student Contributor, Virginia Commonwealth University
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Sarah Thaw Student Contributor, Virginia Commonwealth University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Name:
Donald W. Haskins, Jr (DJ)

Age:
23
 
Year:
Senior
 
Major:
Business: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
 
 
Who has influenced you most in life?
My parents, they’ve been there from day one.
 
What made you choose VCU?
It’s semi close to home and it has good academic programs.
 
When and why did you start doing graphic design?
Well, I’ve always been artist and you have to keep up with technology and combining the two just made sense. As far as when I started, I’d have to say way back in elementary school playing around in MS Paint.
 
Do you plan on tying that in with your major? How?
I can already draw and paint, so I have the skills there, so my major is helping me understand getting the business (money) end up and going.
 
 
What is your dream job?
Dream job…athlete, CEO of an athletic company, master chef of my own restaurant, world traveler. I would have to say I can’t pick just one, I’d at least want to make a career out of doing the things I enjoy doing.
 
When did you start designing on shoes? What inspired Colored Sole?
I have always had a love of shoes and I started drawing/designing them in while I was in middle school; making up my own brand and a line of sneakers to go with it. Colored Sole; the name kinda just came to me when I was doodling, thinking of what I should call what I wanted to do with all the shoes I’d been painting and I didn’t want it to sound like or look like anyone else’s .
 
What are some of your favorite things that you’ve created?
Everything I’ve done so far is a favorite of mine. All through the process and even when I’ve finished a project I am excited because I know it’s going to look awesome. The shoes are always fun to do, they take a while, but whether they are for me or someone else, I love the look on other people’s faces.
 
 
How can people get you to design their shoes?
They can check out my past work on my Facebook page Colored Sole and leave me a message on there. If they are local to Virginia, we can meet face to face and discuss their ideas, if not, email works just fine.
 
What other items do you personalize?
At the moment, just shoes. I did a hat and a couple things on shirts for myself in the past a few model cars, paracord bracelets and I do posters for my brother.
 
A word of advice?
Dream big and don’t let it just stay a dream and there’s a whole world out there, everyone should get out and see it.
Sarah Pentecost

VCU '17

Sarah is from Lynchburg, Virginia but has lived in Richmond since attending Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012 where she studied Mass Communications with a concentration in print journalism. She began contributing to Her Campus at VCU as a freshman and was developed to lead the chapter as Campus Correspondent for two years where she increased membership by 65% and brought the chapter ranking from bronze level to platinum level. She enjoyed attending both the mid-atlantic conferences held with the chapter at the College of William & Mary and Her Conferences held in NYC. 

Sarah currently works in the tech industry in marketing. She has a background in communications, hospitality and nonprofit consulting. She still loves attending VCU basketball games and also loves live music. In her free time, she likes going on long walks with her dog, tending to her house plants and cycling around downtown. Fun fact: she has never owned a car and is a community advocate for public transit.

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn.
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Sarah Thaw

VCU

Sarah is a Mass Communications student at VCU with a concentration in Online/Print Journalism. She is passionate about veganism, traveling, music, health and fitness. Her plans after graduation are to move to NYC and work within the journalism field.