Powerful Woman of Purpose. Samantha Divine Jallah
This week we have another amazing woman who has tiptoed around the adversities and wore her dreams as a crown. For her, obstacles and challenges are nothing to be feared, rather they are to be embraced, studied, and attacked with all the wisdom, skill, and passion she has developed during a lifetime of overcoming. We hope to learn by knowing about their world and we will continue to do so every Thursday…
About Samantha –
Shaped by the atrocities of a brutal civil war in Liberia, Samantha overcame many obstacles in escaping to America and beginning a determined journey to make something of her life. She completed high school with honors and matriculated into college at age fifteen. In less than four years, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree with honors while also holding down many diverse jobs and serving numerous organizations. A licensed Attorney with an MBA and a team player with positive attitude and strong client-facing skills, Samantha has over a decade of combined work experience in business and law. Her business experience includes management, banking, healthcare, and nonprofit. Her legal experience contains public sector opportunities and private sectors in-house and firm opportunities. She is also the founder of Liberian Awards, Inc., a nonprofit organization that mentors minority college students and recognizes immigrants excelling in the Diaspora. Her real life experience in overcoming obstacles has led her to become an overcomer in all areas of her life. For her, obstacles and challenges are nothing to be feared, rather they are to be embraced, studied, and attacked with all the wisdom, skill, and passion she has developed during a lifetime of overcoming.
How do you define your purpose? Purpose is living within your calling. It is being obedient to God's direction and prioritizing God's will over yours. Purpose isn't a fixed destination but a fluid journey. It isn't one thing, but many things. For example, I have a calling as a daughter, wife, and mother. The needs of my parents, husband, and children change. Living within each calling is fluid and fueled by God's direction. We have read that you love facing challenges? I'm naturally an impatient person. When I'm going through challenges, "love" isn't what I feel. I question God's plan and beg for a way out, like yesterday. But over the years, I have come to enjoy the character that challenges create. And that character (and the perfect vision hindsight yields) makes me love the purpose of the challenges. What is the most challenging thing you've faced and how did you overcome it? The most challenging season of my life was when I started law school. My dad had recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a few months to live. I was eight months pregnant with our first child. My husband worked three and half hours away from the school and could only come home on weekends. I had taken a big risk by leaving a promising banking job and career for law school. For a while I thought I overcame by just waking up and doing things--tackling one thing at a time and doing what I had to do. Soon I realized that, like the Footprint story, God carried me through that season. It took an eternal grace to carry me through that season with some level of sanity and smiles. God also sent angels around me to teach me the value of interdependence. I understood how it felt to need help from others--to be truly vulnerable. I learned it took more strength to accept help than to refuse it. And, the angels within my community grew me into a more humble, emphatic, and grateful person. You serve several communities, What makes you so passionate about what you do? I can personally relate to the communities I serve because I have been (or am) where they are. For example, when I serve immigrant and minority college students through Liberian Awards, I can relate to the challenges of not feeling like you belong, not knowing whether you will complete college, or balancing the hopes of your family with your dreams and reality. Bottom line is, I let my passion drive my community service and serve people and communities I can personally relate to. In this challenging world, it is not easy for women to stand out and build their dreams. How has your journey been so far? In many ways, I've avoided standing out because of fear or insecurity. Where I've stood out, I've stood out for the work I have done or because angels in the workplace have encouraged me to take bolder steps than I was comfortable taking. In that respect, my journey has been significantly influenced by the incredible leaders I've had in my professional life. They have looked out for me, challenged me, and supported me. My dreams, like my purpose, have evolved along the way because of opportunities I have been presented and my willingness to explore those opportunities. While the journey has always had challenges, it's been great overall.
What suggestions can you offer our readers that can help them overcome adverse situations in their life? Expect challenges, plan for them. Seek help to get through them. Many people fall for the mirage of perfection. Marriage will be happily ever after. I will land that dream job. My kids will be flawless. The list goes on.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) the world isn't perfect and neither are we. As you aim for your dreams, think through possible obstacles and create a plan for overcoming them.
Also understand your limitations and know you'll never be able to omnisciently come up with or plan for every challenge. You will need a community to help you navigate the challenges. Build a community for the challenges.
My community has schooled and unschooled, professionals and non-professionals. They all help me navigate the challenges, investing in my success each step of the way.
Managing a demanding career and family can be really hard for a woman. How do you balance the two? Balance is hard and I do not always succeed at maintaining it. My goal is to invest in both my family and my work and make my time with both counts. As a friend of mine puts it, work life balance is both-and, not an either-or, situation.
Communication is also a key. When the work realm needs my attention more than normal, I communicate that with my family. And, vice versa. Every now and then both worlds need more of me at the same time. Then, I sacrifice sleep, live off the adrenaline, and pray for the best.
Being pregnant most of my law school career, I had to miss out on many weddings, reunions, and family celebrations that I had always attended. It was hard to tell loved ones "no," and harder when they didn't understand. But, I had to prioritize. I couldn't be a decent wife, mom, or law student, and attend every event I was invited to.
Balancing family and work requires seeking and receiving help. Professionally, I've asked clients to convert in-person meetings into conference calls because of a sick child situation. Conversely, I've asked the day care to watch my children longer than normal because a work situation required my attention. I have yet to meet someone who has successfully balanced family and work without an interdependent support system.
Beauty and Purpose is about unveiling your inner strength and beauty. How do you celebrate your beauty? I celebrate beauty by reflecting with a pen. I love writing poetry to make sense of beauty around and within me. I also enjoy doing hair. If I could be anything in the world, I'd be a hairdresser. Besides Bible, which is your favourite book? Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success by John Maxwell
For years I struggled with the fear of failing. This book helped me realign my paradigm in an unforgettable way.
You can balance your dreams and your purpose. Don’t be afraid to take the next steps for your next big move.
Everyone has a purpose and to realize this purpose needs courage, to overcome all challenges to fulfil that purpose. Join us to know more...
