Our featured young professional this week is Mr Devon Ulysses Osborne 11, a Creative Design Artist. Photo: VINO

Mr Devon Ulysses Osborne II is the holder of an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Designs attained from the Miami Dade College, USA. Photo: VINO

Speaking about his name, which he shares with his father, Devon said he did his research on it and found his middle name ‘Ulysses’ it to be Greek in origin. “Devon is a country and Ulysses is the name of a hero that saved the country in ancient Greek time, so it all kind of add up,” explained Mr Osborne II.

He said the symbolism of his names matches his lifestyle today as he sees himself as a hero and inspiration to his siblings. “I have set an example for them to follow and it’s not in any boasting way or manner. I have set an example by going out to school, sticking to my studies and coming out with a degree.”

Devon is a resident of Sea Cows Bay who has a passion for the creative designing and an equal passion for family. It was interesting to note the interest he shows in being around to support his mother Indira Hayed and his younger siblings. “No matter what I do, I always want to ensure that I can be around to assist my mother. She is a hero of commitment and a woman that loves her family and deserves our fullest support,” he said with a passion.

“I want to be there for them, my siblings and my mom and the talent God has given me and how I work gives me the opportunity to do just that,” the young professional stated.

In his current profession as a Creative Design Artist, Devon has and continues to produce work for some of the big companies in the Virgin Islands, the most recent being LIME. Designing, he said, is a gift he recognised he possessed from a very young age.

“The programmes that we use to create anything that we like I practically had the knowledge from before. I learnt them on my own so when I went into the school it was nothing new. What they were teaching were things that I had the knowledge of from a long time,” he said while admitting that there were some things that he did grasp that were either new or improved. “No one knows everything about anything.”

"When I got into high school and was at the stage of fourth form I wasn’t so sure of what I wanted to do as a career but I chose graphic designing because I knew for sure that I was very good at that and I was very successful.” he said.

From high school he furthered his studies at college before moving on to studying for his degree. Following his graduation, Devon went into the world of work but surprisingly to him he started in the private sector. “I always want to work in the Communications Department of government but the windows of opportunity is so small that there is no space there right now for me,” he said while stating that because he is still very young he would still want to venture into the government arena.

“I am still very young, I have a far way to go and I am not going to get on high horses and raise my chest, I am humble and want to make every use of my youth to learn as much as I possibly can in every possible and available market. So I want the government to know that Devon is still waiting for that opening.”

While he is keeping his eyes open to windows of opportunities, Devon is currently doing contract works for LIME and loves every last minute of doing what he does best. He said he is proud of himself not being one of the many young men that are seen as those falling through the cracks.

The young man related that one of his biggest goals is to live one of the dreams of his father, Mr Devon Ulysses Osborne I, and that is to mount the first international style bill boards.

Giving some advice to his fellow youth, Devon said one of the things he would encourage youth of today is to make schooling a priority. “You might have a skill but what I have learnt and I want to share that with you is that school, an education is very, very, very important.”

According to our featured young professional, parents have a great role to play in motivating their children and so does society. “Don’t look at those making the fast money, that is not the way to go. If money is to come your way it will but let it be in the channel that is right, fair to yourself and society, do not be carried away with fast money. Go to school, take in your education and the world will be yours,” the young man advised.