SAMANTHA HOLLOWAY

It’s our favorite time of the week when we get to highlight a woman who has survived different challenges in life but has overcome those hurdles and pays it forward in her community I’ve enjoyed learning a piece of her story because when you get a lot of insight into the person when they speak on their history and where they come from. We bring you, Samantha!!

While Samantha was born in Texas, the rest of her immediate family (parents and older brother) were from England, and when she was 3, they moved to sunny California Her dad traveled a lot for work and spent long periods away from the home And while her home was very loving, she knew at a young age that her mother had challenges with alcoholism and anxiety. So many of us attribute our resilience to previous women in our lives, but it was the strength her dad poured into her that drew me in. Her dad allowed her to be who she was and encouraged her to stand when everyone else may be falling.

Sam would later move back to England at 17 and have her daughter, Jess., who would later serve as a stronghold in our She Stories community As a single mother, Sam raised Jess with the love and support of her family and was able to go back to school to become a legal exec. This is where the empowerment from her dad would serve her as an adult As a young girl, she played boy's baseball and ran with her brother and his friends. Then as a young American girl in the male-dominated legal world in England, she quickly learned how the world misjudges women, especially single mothers.

Samantha would later move back to Cali with Jess and get married and have a son Even though the marriage ended, she was able to instill love and foundation in her kids, and they carried her strength with them as well The happiest times were definitely with her kids.

In 2013, she lost her mother due to cancer, which had a devastating effect on her brother and father, after 62 years of marriage! And shortly after Covid, Samantha would lose her daughter Jess to cancer as well, after only 9 months of being diagnosed And just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, her dad passes 6 months later.

So much immediate loss in a short period can paralyze a person, but Samantha always leaned back on the strength in her foundation. “The empowerment comes from standing back up after being completely shattered physically and mentally.” She couldn’t be more right!

Samantha is now the Director of Administration for an AmLaw 100 company Once again, working in an industry where she can't take any shortcuts. She worked hard and sought out growth opportunities at every turn The love for legal processes is her boss crown, but her heart’s passion is taking on the foster girls that have aged out of the system and still need nurturing and support

At She Stories, we know that stories of our past are only half the story. The other half comes from what we’re leaving behind for those coming up behind us. And Samantha is doing just that! She’s found a need in so many women who realize they still need some guidance after becoming a “legal adult” She’s doing amazing work for those around her and we want to recognize Sam for her strength and resilience.

WE LOVE YOU SAM!

You can check Samantha out on IG: @sammyjoho

Learn more about Cancer Awareness, you can check out the American Cancer Society: HERE!

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