NO DAYS OFF: SHEMA

Next up in our No Days Off series is Shema Turner, a nurse, content creator, and designer.

1 - WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? 

I’m a Travel Nurse, Digital Artist/Designer, Fashion/Sneaker Enthusiast,and a Creative Entrepreneur. My days are super loaded. When I’m on a travel nurse assignment, it gets extremely busy because I have to split my 24 hrs between time in the hospital and time for my creative work. There’s so much behind the scenes work that often goes unnoticed, but if your only goal is to reach a final result then you’re missing all of the lessons along the way. I usually wake up, go to work, come home do my creative projects, hangout with my friends(who are also creative entrepreneurs). I feel like I have the best ideas in the middle of the night so I usually stay up pretty late, then start all over again. The grind literally doesn’t stop and New York doesn’t either, so it’s been really great living in a city that embraces the #nodaysoff mentality. I do fully believe in self care and tending to your mental and physical, so that's purposefully apart of the grind too.

2 - WHAT ARE SOME [PROFESSIONAL] MILESTONES THAT YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT HITTING IN 2020?

I’m really focused on actively developing my personal brand. I hope to be apart of more major ad campaigns this year and align myself with causes and projects I really care about. I also really want to have my first experiential pop up for my sneaker brand. 

3 - WHAT DRIVES YOU / YOUR WORK? [PURPOSE]

I’m big on ownership and entrepreneurship. My biggest desire is to be a vessel and a voice to empower my community. My purpose is to always leave something better than I found it with any work or any project I’m involved in. 

4 - LIFE DEMANDS PERFORMANCE. IN WHAT WAYS WERE YOU PUSHED OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE [WITH YOUR WORK]?

I’ve been trying a lot of new things creatively. I tend to finish a project and will then look at it again and literally say to myself, “wait how can I make this better, more innovative.” I recently did a still fashion illustration for a brand’s fashion show, finalized all the looks, and then scrapped the whole thing and was like this needs movement. I then completely transformed the illustration into animation, with moving models. It was my first time doing animation, but I felt this internal push to just do more, do something different. I’m a firm believer in stepping out of your comfort zone to experience growth. 

5 - WE AT ALPHA UNDERSTAND THAT MINDSET IS A HUGE FACTOR AND OFTEN AN ADVANTAGE IN REACHING SUCCESS. HOW DO YOU [MENTALLY] PREPARE FOR THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES YOUR WORK PRESENTS? 

Mindset is soooo important. I take on projects knowing they’re going to be hard, so when challenges arise I’m already mentally prepared to navigate the problem. You have to embrace the uncomfortable tests and trials along the way knowing it builds character. It’s extremely easier said than done but it’s definitely something I try to practice everyday. 

ABOUT PERSONAL STYLE:

1 - HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WEARING THIS PIECE / THESE PIECES? 

I love mixing athletic wear into my street style. Clothes can be comfortable and COZY and still scream FASHION. The SS20 collection fits right into my rotation. The pieces are flexible. I can layer the sweats with a hoodie an oversized coat and pair it with a bucket hat or match the graphic tees with a tailored suit and a fly handbag, the options are limitless.

2 - WOULD YOU SAY YOUR STYLE MATCHES YOUR AMBITION? 

Absolutely! My style has a little edge and a lot of personality. I’m an extremely competitive person and I’m always trying to push the narrative. Visually this translates into my personal style and fashion choices. 

3 - HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE? 

Street, accessorized, chains, oversized but neat, unexpected, comfortable, textured, nostalgic, cozy.

4 - THE SS20 PT COLLECTION WAS BORN OF PURPOSE. WHAT KIND OF PURPOSE DOES IT SERVE FOR YOUR STYLE / YOUR WORK? 

The collection actually came right on time for what’s currently going on in my life. I just recently had surgery and the recovery process involves daily physical therapy. I’m definitely the girl that shows up to physical therapy in a complete ‘fit. The collection works really well for everyday life and for working out.