Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samuel Zeeryp. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Samuel, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Reliance is not an innate quality you’re born with, it’s inadvertently curated through the trials and tribulations you’ve persevered through. At the top of my resume, my name is listed as Samuel Zeeryp. That is followed by, “Perseverance Expert”. Aside from this just being a simple fact, there’s a deeper meaning & intention behind what many may take to be a surface-level understanding.
Since the day I was born, (April fools day) life has truly tested me in far more ways than I’d be able to elaborate on or convey in a simple article. I’ve always referred to my life as a “roller coaster”. The meaning behind that metaphor being, the highs and lows that dramatically transpire in almost the blink of an eye. I’ve been very fortunate to have commendable achievements under my belt. My tenacity is truly remarkable, & it shows.
However, the parallel of my life is the almost mind-boggling, inconceivable, or astonishing twists life has and will continue to throw at me. Whether it be my Father committing suicide by a shotgun wound to the head when I was age four, or my step-father (who was my father in my eyes as well) tragically dying on the last day of tenth grade. Supporting a household with two 14-year-old siblings, plus a heavy emphasis on alcoholism, or being sent to a residential foster care facility in Iowa that has since been shut down for abuse and
neglect after watchdog groups & NBC Nightly News brought said situations to light…
I could go on for hours telling you my truth, who I am. Why I am the way I am. But at the end of the day, if you asked me if I gained anything from these life experiences – It’s my undeniable R E S I L I E N C E .
For a lot of the inspiration behind my thoughts today, I have to credit my instructors & mentors at Paul Mitchell The School Michigan. Paul Mitchell has an extradentary way of celebrating its graduates on their day. You are put on a stage, spotlights on – & your education team & faculty speak to who you are & showcase/validate what they’ve seen during your hair journey at the school & in life. These influential and introspective individuals speak to your truth, in addition to what they’ve been you embody during your cosmetology education journey. I use this video recording frequently to this day to remind myself of the resilience I’ve embodied & continue to execute to this present day. & I quote “Samuelllllll! You have just, you persevered. Honestly, a lot of people don’t know the things you’ve gone through. It’s been an up & down the hills and the valleys – & that’s what you’re going to have to do to be successful. You’ve got big dreams & big goals & you’re going to kill it.” said the enrollment/placement coordinator at my school. “You gotta stay focused!” – Monica Paul Mitchell The School, Michigan.
Resilience:
- The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. “the remarkable resilience of so many institutions”
- The ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. “Nylon is excellent in wearability and resilience”
In conclusion, I get my resilience from the deepest part of my core, which demands & requires the legacy and greatness I know I embody – DESPITE life’s hurdles or turbulence.
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?
I am the sole preparator of Bitchin’ Blowouts located in Ferndale, Michigan. Bitchin’ Blowouts provides hair Achemization and Transformational services. I specialize in blonding and color services but do offer a wide range of other hair services such as cuts, treatments, and styling. Alchemization is not a word that is recognized by any dictionary. This is a concept I developed as a part of my brand.
The definition of Alchemy is –
“The medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir.” or “A seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination.”
The thought behind Alchemization is a combination of working with heavy metals (which often are a main component of color corrections, which I do a lot of) and this magical transformation.
The transformational part is because I provide transformational services from the inside out. With a background in Psychology and Sociology from 5 years of education at CMU, I was going to become a therapist. Even though I didn’t
pursue that career, I’ve been dubbed the “Hairapist”. I like to think I just traded my couch for a stylist chair. So not only do you get a physical transformation,
but you also get an internal transformation in my Salon. And THAT is what sets me apart from my competitors.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first and most important thing would be the development of your emotional intelligence/awareness. Once you stop growing, you start dying. My-self help journey has been a long one. And don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly still on it. But noticing character flaws and making strides to improve and be a better person never will be the wrong answer. It’s been essential for me.
The second would be advocating for yourself. I had to learn early on that if you don’t speak up for yourself and make your voice heard – no one will. Closed mouths don’t get fed, and while it may seem a little uncomfortable at first, change does not come from comfortability. And that’s one of my mantras that I’ll always hold close.
Thirdly, I’d have to say is – Be Different. And not only that, but be okay with being different. I have never fit the mold of society, not even as a child. You can always point me out in a crowd. I live my truth authentically and have never not been able to do so. Be the change or difference. Be the influencer or new idea. Be unique, and most of all — be you.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
In my graduation video that I mentioned earlier, I had an opportunity to give “Words of Wisdom” as all other Paul Mitchell students do. My words of
wisdom were, ” The only obstacle in life is yourself. Keep on doing what you gotta do, If you want it you can go and get it”.
It’s the truest statement ever. We are our limits. We get to decide what we want for our future or if we’ll allow ourselves opportunities, or success moving forward. Resilience goes hand in hand with that. Life will always have struggles, problems or issues. It’s about how you respond to said issues, and how you persevere through them. And once you understand that concept, it’s all growth baby!
“I never fail, I only learn” – Qveen Herby
Contact Info:
- Website: https://squareup.com/appointments/book/j7ofsfcrdn0tgb/LXPZZ5HTD0Q50/services
- Instagram: Bitchin_blowouts
- Facebook: Btchin’ Blowouts by Sam Zee
- Yelp: Bitchin Blowouts
