Meet Samantha Johnson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samantha Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I would have to say I got my resilience from my Mother. She has always shown me what a strong woman looks like. As I have gotten older, my resilience comes from within me, my inner peace.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

So I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was a little girl. I would play school with my dolls and stuff animals. I am a Special Education Teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools. It’s my dream job. When I was middle school I decided I wanted to be a special education teacher, because I didn’t see anyone who looked like me (someone who has cerebral palsy), to advocate for children who haven’t learned how to advocate for themselves just yet. I also wanted to show, that just because you may have a different ability, you can still do any and everything you put your mind to. Being a special education teacher is my passion and purpose, I love my job, getting to teach and learn from my students excites me each and every day. Yes it has its rewards and challenges, but seeing the smiles on my students faces warms my heart.

I have my associates degree in Early Childhood Education, my bachelor’s degree in specialized administration and I recently received my masters degree in special education that one was very personal, I did it online while working two jobs.

A couple of years ago I decided to write a book an Autobiography titled Pieces of Me: Letters to a Queen about my life, the obstacles and achievements, I have made. I’m looking forward to sharing my story with the world, so that everyone can see a story of determination, passion, and what it looks like to truly walk in you purpose.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities, skills and or areas of knowledge would be

1. Learning to speak up for myself.
2. Protecting my peace
3. Having determination

Advice I would give to anyone is never give up on your dream. Remember to are enough. You matter. Believe in yourself. Always remember if no one else has you , You got you.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing that my parents have done for me is teach me how to adapt and advocate for myself in life with have cerebral palsy, they have never treated me differently, or told me that I can’t do anything, they actually did the opposite and challenged me to do everything like everyone else even when I wanted to give up.

Image Credits

Samantha Johnson