A personality that shines like silver
"So one day I walk into school on the first day of 5th grade - this was after attending the last half of 4th being a new kid - and as I walked into the large gymnasium where all of my 5th grade classmates were seated in large groups, I stop and took a look around. I saw people I knew from the last semester - but they were sitting with people I didn't particularly care to associate with. As I continued my steady pan of the room, I see a kid I hadn't recognized sitting by himself against the wall; deciding to rebel against the mass groups of other children, I walked up to him and said 'hello;' he returned the sentiments as I sat-down next to him. That my friend, started the best and closest friendship I've acquired to date: Kind of makes me think it was fate, that is of course if I believed in such things."
Sterling Sanders, born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 31, 1982. This is man that categorizes himself under the title of modern renaissance. "I'm a jack-of-all-trades, or at least that's the way I like to think about it (laughs)," he stated proudly. An avid student, reader, writer, collector, audiophile, music-consumer/producer, DJ, dancer, electronics-nut, computer-wiz, car-buff, movie-goer/analyst, sports player, and anti-social personality turned social. Often one of the most persistent students in not only learning, but in discussing topics during class as well.
He says that he's "always strived to be something bigger and better than his current-self at any particular moment." Sterling is on the course to "be good at whatever he decides to do," and he thinks that's just about anything he wishes. His comments are often peremptory but always within reason, nicely framed in humor and tinted with a special touch of charisma. This is a boy who makes his mother proud and its shown by the way she proudly supports his every-move in life - though she always advises him of her opinion and discretion. "I'm a momma's boy," he said loudly enough for the rest of the cozy restaurant in which we were currently situated to hear. He only lives to please himself, but enjoys pleasing his mother. However vainglorious that might sound to the average person, its very common place for him, "I'm a realist, one of the few left I think. I try to deal with what's real, why cloud your thoughts and judgments with falsities?" he asked trying to prove a point. "I'm the guy who will tell you that your shirt is ugly, wrinkled, and it doesn't go with your shoes - mostly because it's the truth - it'd be mostly for your benefit, I would have set my own amusement secondary (laughs)." "I'm not going to pussy-foot around or avoid what is fact, if it is, it is: Why spend time trying to avoid something that your eventually not going to get around and are going to have to face, because it hurts? Please."
Sterling seems to be on this kick about conquering the world, or as close to that dream as he can get. He was brought up in a household of few rules, the few there were, were austere and stern at the core. He says that he was "allowed freedom to the point most would treasure, but there were severe consequences for breaking those few [rules] there actually were." "I had the unfortunate experience in breaking those rules far to many times" he continued to say. Those basic rules and great freedoms allowed for Sterling to have a stable base on which to build a strong person. "As a kid" he said, "I was sort of like putty, I tried to experience as many things as possible, and each thing formed me in a different way, taught me different values, lessons and different techniques/ways of doing things. I really got the most out of observation."
He was the kind of kid that was neither the bullie nor their victim; he gave them both equal-opportunity humorous-commentaries. "Facts are facts, I just enjoy stating them from my point of view." This is not a guy who looks for spiritual awakening, but prides himself in dealing with the realistic, yet still he enjoys experimenting with the abstract. "I'm up for and idea your willing to offer, and I'll take it into my own consideration, but I'm not gonna' guarantee anything (winks)." It seems his favorite quote of all is a fact that he believes the greater population of the country sees, but few are willing to admit: "The vast majority of people are at least one of four things; either ignorant, stupid, ignorant and stupid, or ignorers of reality, thus falling into the category of stupidity. All of which," he says "present a problem and an obstacle for the intelligent." On the same token he stated that he wouldn't really want a world of complete intelligence either - "that that would certainly make for a boring and mundane life."
"I think most" he says, "choose to ignore what is real, and that's really a shame." Sterling tries to embrace life to his fullest, if it's the great works of a French poet, or extreme sports, he really takes life to heart, and wants to experience and do as many things as possible. He learned a long time ago that age only purports certain restrictions, there's a lot one can do early on in life, that most don't realize it until later. Only at the mere age of 19 this kid thinks he on top of the world. He feels he knows what he wants to do, having both experienced the college life of big and small campus, seeing the available job listings in the world, he's found his place. As a former student - computer engineer - at the University of Illinois, he feels he's certainly been "set straight on what he's really striving for. in other words I want to do something more exciting [to me] than figuring out programming algorithms and using massive sheets of paper containing only equations and formulas, day-in and day-out."
Sterling's strong ideals are only contrasted by his nonchalant and carefree mannerisms. Sterling is a highly articulate soul, and a person determined to be successful. "Hopefully not the point of arrogance, but if so, I'll try not to show it as much [laughs]." His current dreams are set on writing for a magazine of some sort; he'll have that opportunity this summer, but has been indecisive about his plans. "To tell you the truth, I don't know what I'm going to do, there are so many options - many of them quite disorienting. I could go to California and write for a magazine, or stay in Chicago and freelance while taking summer school, or I could sit on my ass and say f*** the world." His intent toward the world is benign, he's quite happy with the current world, he says that "all the scandal that goes on these days is more entertainment than anything, half of it doesn't matter, but its amusing to see all the people it does matter too. Just goes to show how us Americans think, we're generally always focusing on the insignificant rather than the crucial; the quick and easily said example is Bill Clinton, enough said.
Sterling is an admirer of both Bill Marr and Denis Miller; not because of their views or ideals, but because of their free expression of ideas. "Sure we have the first amendment, but the majority of people are far too afraid to express their own opinions, especially to the public." These thoughts not only stem from the nation, and its politics, but the people with in it as well.
I've spoken with others in Sterling's family and they all seem to have the same sentiments: He's bright, harshly sarcastic, methodic in most of his interests, anal when it comes to his possessions - and work for that matter, funny, playful until needed seriousness, and lastly, could really care less about most people and whatever they think. "There are only certain people he really respects and all of them for different reasons" says his mother. "His lightheartedness is quite pleasant until you get on his bad side, that's when I just resort hitting him and running away" said his sister. She continued on to state that most of his intentions are good, but she thinks his hard-headedness is a problem.
Slowly Sterling is beginning to realize more and more things about life because of his "consistent and never ending questioning" he says. "I'm a child (student) of Aristotle" he averred proudly, "to question everything, and take little for granted." Here's a guy that going places, he has and intelligence tantamount his creativity. "As a writer" he says, "I want to show and tell people new things, not only to inform, but to get them involved, and interested. I'd like nothing more that for people to begin thinking differently because of something they read of mine. Hopefully I can keep writing for a long time to come." Until that time I think everyone's going to have to keep an eye out for this young chap, he's on his way up. He'll finish college before the age of 21, and as he hopes, his masters by 23. This kid's determined to make something of himself. As the current senior editor of two video game websites - with offers from magazines - he feels that he's on his way.
Sterling doesn't mean to seem too arrogant, or deify himself in anyone's eyes; he merely wants to attain his own personal goals, and has both the confidence and will to do so. He's an "old soul" as his mother likes to say, traditional/methodic in many things with a new intellect and technical prowess. All in all, this guy is lots of fun to be around, what he'll accomplish, we will all just have to wait and see.