Meet Sam!
Helping kiddos learn to not only survive in this world, but thrive - takes intentionality, consistency and kindness. When we can plant the seed of resilience in our kids, they grow up having more tools and resources to overcome hardship or obstacles in their lives. The Growing Resilience eBook* (Brought to you by a Strong Family, Safe Communities project administered by greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services) that features rockstar Pause partners Mary Vicario (founder of Finding Hope Consulting) and Sarah Buffie (founder of Soul Bird Consulting) teaches us that the factors to building resilience are:
Voice Choice and Control
Self-Esteem: Self-Worth: Self-Compassion
External Supports
Positive Connections with Safe Adults
Belonging or Affiliation
When kids have the voice to choose - it helps to affirm their opinions matter and need to be heard. When kids have positive self-worth - they know that their mistakes don’t define their character. When kids have external support - they are more equipped to make sense of their surroundings. When kids have positive connections with safe adults - they know they are cared for and loved. When kids feel like they belong - they feel less judgment from their peers and more connected to their community.
From allowing kids which activities to choose next, to sharing positive affirmation stickers, to building relationships with safe adult volunteers - every activity at Pause incorporates a resilience factor. Growing resilience in our Pause kiddos is SO essential to our mission, vision and values and because of that, Pause is excited to announce we have hired our very own Resilience Coordinator, Samantha Story!
Sam’s role is to bring more attention to growing resilience in our young people, finding and connecting families to resources in our community and helping our kiddos with big emotions navigate their feelings.
Want to know something really cool about Sam?! She was the very first Pause intern back in 2015 and has continued to support Pause in a variety of ways throughout the years. Sam has watched Pause grow capacity, serve more families and ultimately bring more kiddos from surviving to thriving. And now, we are ecstatic to call her an official Pause Staffer!
Sam loves to spend time with her daughter, Finley, taking her to parks and on wagon rides in their neighborhood. She drinks coffee like nobody’s business, lives off of reality TV, loves to lift weights and stay active! She also loves bringing fragrance into people's lives with her side hustle. (AKA: If you need Scentsy in your life, Sam is your GAL!)
We asked Sam more about her role with Pause, and here is what she said!
What are you most excited about in your role with Pause?
I am SO excited to support these families. To play a role in bringing out resiliency/confidence is a huge honor.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? How did that play out in what you are doing now?
I wanted to be an actress or to be in theater! Although I am a "little" dramatic, I can't sing a key & I am terrible at pretending to be someone I am not. Although I’m not an actress, now I get to play “pretend” & dress up with our kiddos at our Pause events! I love that I can be curious & creative in my role as a Resilience Coordinator. (:
When you think about who you were intricately designed to be, how will you be a benefit to the families and volunteers we serve?
I am extremely empathetic. Although it can be mentally draining at times, it allows me to see other perspectives and to be less judgmental.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Coffee! Ha! My family gets me out of bed in the morning. I know everything I do is for them. I want to be a positive role model for my daughter. I want her to see that SHE can make an impact in this world and to the people who come into our lives. I also want her to learn from others who may appear different from her. Diversity can be a beautiful thing.
What do you want our Pause families to know about you?
That I simply CARE. I am willing to walk alongside them through every obstacle. I want to help support & connect in any way that is Pauseable. 💙
Sam - we are over the moon to have you back on the Pause team! You have SUCH a beautiful heart to love our families so well and build resilience in our kiddos! #OnceAPauserAlwaysAPauser
*To learn more about The Growing Resilience eBook and to download, click here!
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
