Beauty is such a subjective idea, influenced by everything that makes us who we are. I think someone is their most beautiful when they embrace their individual selves and allow the world to see that they are proud of who they are.
When do you feel most beautiful?
Being a woman to me means that I have an ability to uniquely support and uplift the other women in my life with an understanding and power that our male counterparts aren’t able to offer (through no fault of their own, just the genetic lottery). It means that I can appreciate that although I might share the same anatomical build to that of my female counterparts, I know that we are all unique individuals rather than a group of stereotypes. It means that I have “child bearing hips” (to quote my mother and grandmother) and I can achieve anything that I set my mind to.
I love that I am no one else but myself. I am confident (but humble!) in myself and my abilities. I am strong, resourceful and resilient when I need to be.
Tell me your story:
I’ve never really thought about having a story, but of course we all have one. So I’ll have a go at putting mine together!
I am currently 31 years young and live with my three crazy dogs. I am from a very big blended family which sounds crazy to some people when I describe it but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Collectively I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters (think step siblings, half siblings and siblings from the same parents). Although it sounds messy to other people, I think this dynamic has only made me more family orientated! I have so many nieces and nephews as all of my siblings have children of their own. Not to mention all the beautiful children my friends have! My goal is to be their very cool and fabulous Aunt!!
I decided in primary school, following the suggestion from my Grandfather, that I was going to be a nurse. At 21 years of age I graduated from university as a Registered Nurse. This has been such a huge part of my life which certainly has it’s ups and downs but has also provided me with so many amazing experiences. There is a unique population of the world who can say they’ve had experiences similar to that which a nurse will have over their career.
In the same year I started studying nursing, I also started working as a Retained Firefighter. I spent the next 7 years of my life being on call for this job at every opportunity, around study and later around shift work. It was a busy time of my life that I wouldn’t change for the world. The experiences from this has also helped me to grow to the person I am today. (And how many people get to say they’ve actually been a firefighter? Pretty awesome that I can if you ask me!)
I am now working as a Nurse Educator, teaching undergraduate students their clinical skills, which I absolutely love. It is a profession that is often one that supports people through difficult times and I get to teach new nurses how to do this to the best of their ability which makes me feel incredibly lucky to do my job. Not only do I get to support patients and their families directly myself, but I also help a new nurse grow to be the best nurse they can be which is pretty darn awesome to see and be a part of.
My jobs are such a big part of me and who I am, and as much as I work long days and weeks, I don’t think I would have it any other way!
what is the biggest turning point in your life?
The biggest turning point of my life recently would when my long term relationship came to an end 2 years ago. It’s always a difficult thing for anyone to go through, and at times you question whether things will ever feel better. But the situation for me also pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me put myself out their to take on new life experiences. I traveled to a remote island to work for a few months which was something that was always on my bucket list, so why not take the opportunity when it presents! I put myself out their for new social experiences. I worked hard to remember that I am my awesome self, whether I have a significant other or not, which we all need to remind ourselves in that kind of situation. Although it is not a situation I would wish for anyone, I feel I am in a better place and have a better relationship with myself for having gone through it.
will always strive to support and lift up the people around me. I am someone who would do anything to support my friends and family. I am the person that would tell you if you have spinach in your teeth, but I’m also the person who will tell a complete stranger that they have an amazing smile or look fabulous in the outfit they’re wearing.
Tell me about a goal you are working on:
I am working on myself and finding more ways to improve my healthy relationship with my body. Last year I was unhappy with how I had been starting to treat my body with poor lifestyle choices so I set myself a goal to increase my fitness, hopefully lose a few kilos (although this wasn’t my main goal) and to feel happy in my skin. I have certainly started to make good progress on this goal with quite a lot of change made to my diet and exercise habits, which has been reflected in weight and cm’s lost but it’s still a work in progress. I have recently join a fabulous new gym community called Pineapple Fitness who’s values are wonderful and only echo exactly what I’ve been striving towards for myself so I’m looking forward to see what I can accomplish being a part of their community. They work really hard to engage with women to teach self love and appreciation of our own wonderful bodies which I couldn’t agree with more.
To feel empowered and help show the world than anyone from an ordinary walk of life can pull off something a little bit glamorous and out of the ordinary!
Thank you, Samantha , for taking part in this project. I hope to see you again soon!
Thanks to the wonderful team of Fresh Salon Nelson Bay that did the absolute amazing make over. ( www.freshsalon.com.au)