Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Sims.
Hi Samantha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in a small country town called Brownsville, PA; three brothers and two sisters along with a lot of family members and friends. Some of them always lived with us, so the house was pretty full. In my younger days, our life was absolutely amazing; we never wanted for anything, I can still remember all those wonderful days of living on Jackson Street, playing in the open fields, swimming in the creeks, fishing, chasing our chickens around, and riding my green machine with my brother. Those were the good ole days, my Mom always made sure we had anything we wanted and everything we needed and it didn’t matter if there were 6 in the house, 9 in the house, or 12 in the house. To us, as kids, we were rich, rich in love, and rich in the fact we thought we had it all.
Moving forward a little bit older, we left that house and moved to a house that was located in the projects but not an actual apartment. Things were different there, the house was different, the neighborhood was different and so were my parents. Unfortunately, alcohol and domestic violence had entered into this phase of my life and my life was never the same from that point on. This was the point in my life where I found out what poor meant and was introduced to the System. You know the System that someone reports your family to when they think you aren’t getting what you need as a kid or you look like you’re wearing dirty clothes to school, or it doesn’t look like you’re being fed or that you could be suffering from some kind of abuse.
This is where I learned about the word struggle. Now don’t get me wrong, my Mom was still taking care of us but the care was different because the situation was different. As a kid, I still thought my Mom was doing the best she could because of the circumstances. No matter how little we had or what we didn’t have, we were all managing to stay together and that is what counted, not the times when we were without electricity or running water because the utilities were shut off or how many different locations we lived in because of the evictions. The bottom line is me and my brothers and sisters were together and that is all that mattered.
Fast forward, Mom is sick and has been for years, the System feels she can’t take care of us and removes us from her care, first to a family member and then foster care, but wait we are almost still all together but not all of us. Four of us are still together and we are still happy about that. Throughout these years, we have seen a lot, been through a lot, seen some things a child shouldn’t see and now can’t unsee but here we are still together, and guess what my Mom has done everything the System asked her to do and we are now back home.
Some things got better, some stayed the same, but we were home. My mom has always been and will always be the love of my life, no matter what mistakes she may have made in the beginning, middle, or end. She was loved by all and she loved her kids with every fiber of her being and did the best she could. She taught her kids to be fighters no matter the circumstance. I just gave you a glimpse, so you can understand just a little bit of where my passion and heart lie when it comes to children/kids/teens, etc. I always knew that I was stronger than my situation and my circumstance and I am here.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Alcohol Abuse & Domestic Violence – I did not go into the domestic violence aspect, I still can’t really talk about that portion. Back then it wasn’t called domestic violence it was just called the beatings.
The road has not been smooth and I am okay with that because I am who my Mom always thought I would be SOMEBODY! I am the strong, beautiful, educated daughter of Mary Ann Barber Williams and nothing will ever change that.
Struggles – living in an environment where alcohol abuse existed and thinking that was the norm. Seeing and hearing domestic violence can really change your perspective about life and people in general. Moving around so much because of evictions, sometimes eating things like ketchup bread, or mayonnaise sandwiches because you were hungry. Always thinking the worst, such as are they going to take us again, are they going to split us up, is SHE OK? Questioning will you make it out of here or is this all life has to offer, wondering if you will be able to leave this situation and if so how.
What do you do?
I am the Chief Development Officer, I network in order to share what Journey to Dream does, our mission and about our teen homeless shelter, Kyle’s Place. I build relationships with individuals and businesses in order to share our mission to bring them on board as supporters or CSR Partners to help us in the fight against teen homelessness. My goal is to also spread awareness of the teen homeless population and that it is happening right in your backyard and to give you an opportunity as an individual or business to partner with us and become a difference-maker. We need all hands on deck, this is not something we can accomplish alone. These teens deserve to know what it is like to be a teen. to be loved without strings attached, and not worry about where they are sleeping, or where their next meal is coming from, or am I safe and the list goes on.
What are you known for?
Passionate, Driven, Dedication, Creative, Great Work Ethic, Dependable, Funny, and Being Happy.
What are you most proud of?
Being the daughter of a Woman that gave more than she received and that I made it! Having an amazing husband that loves me, supports me, protects me, and encourages me at all times. He has loved me through the good, the bad, and the ugly! Also, I did not allow my circumstances to dictate my life. I set goals for myself and I have accomplished more than I ever dreamed of and I am not done yet!
What sets you apart from others?
The fight that is within me! (Which allows me to give 110% when it comes to our teens at Kyle’s Place and homeless teens in general and not taking no for an answer) I love a challenge, when others said I couldn’t do something or you won’t ever amount to anything, I used that to get me to the next level. I love proving others wrong when it comes to who they thought or think I was or what I was going to be or do when it came to my future. Also, the fact that I truly learned from others’ mistakes when I was growing up as well. If someone went left and it didn’t work out I went right! I love stepping out on Faith and knowing I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. I have nothing to lose!
What’s next?
My plans for the future are to continue to celebrate milestones with my wonderful husband and continue to be a blessing to all I cross paths with in some way or another and truly be a difference-maker in the lives of these teens that we are trying to help. I am not here just to exist, I am here to live and live to the fullest!
I am not planning any big changes, I am just here for whatever else God has in store for me because what God has for me is for me, and I know whatever it is, it will be amazing!
Contact Info:
- Email: Samantha@journeytodream.com
- Website: www.journeytodream.com
- Instagram: journey_to_dream
- Facebook: Facebook.com/JTD4Teens
Image Credits
Peter K. Hull – www.peterkhull.com all pics except for last one.
