Speaking it into existence: An interview with Cal Poly student and motivational speaker Jasmine Phipps
“You just got to go now. Everything starts now.”
Separated by a computer screen and a distance of roughly two-hundred miles, I find myself deep in conversation with communications sophomore and entrepreneur minor Jasmine Phipps. In spite of the physical distance between us, our conversation is filled with a spirit of “bridging the gap” – or in Phipps’ case, filling it by speaking out to build others up.
Jasmine Phipps is a passionate dreamer, but by all accounts, a dedicated doer as well. While some university students anticipate eventually applying their field of study to a career after graduation, Phipps’ current efforts as a podcaster, author, and motivational speaker relate directly to her communication studies major and entrepreneurship minor.
However, her drive for pursuing motivational speaking stems from more than just a compulsion to build a resume. Phipps describes her desire to hear words of wisdom and encouragement from a younger voice as the catalyst behind her decision to take the stage. “You don’t hear a lot of young motivational speakers, and so I just wanted to be that voice for my generation,” Phipps said.
In aspiring to be that voice, Phipps’ speech boldly resonates across numerous channels. In her book “Bringing Your Vision to Life,” she confidently shares her life story and accompanying lessons to inspire her readers; in her podcast “Spilling Tea with a POC,” Phipps candidly doles out advice and encouragement regarding a variety of topics to support students of color attending Cal Poly and other PWI (primarily white institution) universities.
Although well versed in the exercise of chasing success, Phipps regularly catches her breath to speak about the challenges she faces in the process. “I have everything it takes to be successful, but for me sometimes it’s very hard for me to move forward because it’s like, I want everything to be perfect,” Phipps said.
At the same time, however, Phipps’ candid writing and down-to-earth demeanor within her podcast showcase a commitment to not only acknowledging worldly imperfections, but embracing them in order to uplift others and herself. In Episode 6 of “Spilling Tea with a POC,” she reassuringly urges viewers to establish their own beauty standards by advising them to “be comfortable in the skin that you’re in.”
Phipps, for her part, appears very comfortable on our Zoom call, laughing occasionally before carefully weighing her words in the same way that she does on her podcast. However, as she readily acknowledges in our conversation, Phipps is no stranger to discomfort. From experiencing bullying and depression in sixth grade to struggling with body dysmorphia and ADHD, she has faced hard times – and made a decision to use them to help others find success through their struggles.
“I feel like a lot of times this college campus – and not just this college campus, but a lot of college campuses – it’s like a check off the box for things,” Phipps said. “And with me, I feel like whatever I’m going through, I know somebody else is going through. That’s why I’ll talk about it.”
Therein lies the special element of Phipps’ spark as a content creator and a human being. By openly acknowledging the role that difficult times have played in her personal story, Phipps exemplifies giving meaning to adversity without giving in. It was one of these hardships in particular, Phipps tells me, that drew her to one of her greatest passions.
When she was younger, Phipps struggled with writing and disliked it as a result of her classroom experiences with ADHD. “I did not think that writing was going to be that outlet for me,” Phipps said.
After receiving encouragement from her 6th grade English teacher, however, Phipps had a change of heart. “It changed my perspective. I write poetry all the time,” she said, adding that she hopes to compile her works into a book someday in the near future. In terms of other goals, Phipps is looking forward to hosting more guests on her podcast, penning a second book about her college experience at a PWI university, and continuing to hit the gym consistently.
Even with her eyes on the future, I can’t shake the sense that Phipps is deeply convicted of grounding her efforts in the present to touch others. In return for the guidance that she has received from figures such as her 6th grade English teacher, Phipps uses her podcast and writing as platforms to impact those who are undergoing trying circumstances.
“It’s hard not to feel alone when you’re the 1%,” Phipps said, referring to the challenges that she and other Black students sometimes face at Cal Poly. “A girl came to me the other day and she’s like, ‘that poem really helped me because it showed me that I’m not the only one going through what I’m going through.’ And just hearing those things, that’s what keeps me going.”
