RTDM: Samantha Pill
Samantha Pill
Professional Boxer by Day, Emergency RN Supervisor by Night
Shinnston, WV
We want to get to know you! Briefly tell us about yourself: Where you came from, where you've been and how you live your dream (or are working toward it).
I'm still living in the small town I was raised in- just outside of Shinnston, West Virginia. I'm a blessed born again Christian, and I have the Lord to thank for everything he has given me and allowed me to achieve. Every single day in my career I see how fast it can all be taken away. I didn't start competing in sports until middle school, and thought I was done out of high school. I chose not to play college basketball and quickly start my nursing career at Fairmont State University. The same year I graduated from nursing, I was married, and shortly after added two children and a bunch of animals on a 56 acre farm. I was usually a homebody workaholic as a nurse and on my farm, until I found another part of me that made me so driven- and still a workaholic. Ten years later into my career and family, I had my first professional boxing debut match at that same University. I was never much of a traveler until boxing has shown me many new faces and places. I didn't go far from home, but I'm doing as much as I can to go as far as possible in boxing!
How do you define success and how do you stay motivated to keep working toward it?
Success to me is setting a goal, and working towards it. When I mean business, I write out my days hourly a week in advance. Preparedness is the key to staying on tack. The reward is in the road work. Motivation is for Pinterest quotes. If you have to get motivated, you're already behind. As long as you are working, you are succeeding. The hardest part of any plan is the work it takes when you don't want to do it. Some weeks success comes in many different forms of small goals- making sure I pick up groceries, finish laundry, and cleaning out the chicken coop, because next week's success will be starting training camp and running my kids to practices. As a nurse working a cardiac arrest, with arms so sore from fighting two days before, and resuscitating a patient is a success that can't be matched. One day a successful run might be a PR on a 5K, another day a successful run might be finishing two miles because you didn't want to run at all. One day of boxing training success might only be landing 3 or 4 more punches than you did last week on the guy that beats the crap out of you to make you a better fighter. Making it home in time and staying awake long enough to play a game of Uno with my kiddos on a Friday night is a major Mom success. If you make a plan, you can reach more goals, little by little every day.
What’s been your biggest challenge, perceived failure or fear and how did you overcome it?
Both my biggest challenge and fear that I had to overcome when I began boxing was this modern-day mom-shaming. When I decided that I wanted to proceed past amateur and fight professional I was almost afraid to admit it to my family. Not that I wasn't busy enough working 12-hour night shifts at least four nights a week, have two kids that still are my priority, and being a wife- that whole picture has its own expectations of what I should be doing. It was never that I wasn't happy with my life, it's that I found more of myself and I wanted to pursue it. Everyone is quick to "like" that fit photo or say it must be nice! I wish I could do that I don't know how you keep up! I'm here to answer that. It's too hard. Everyone quits at that 40% rule (reference David Goggins). If it was easy everyone would be doing it- and it takes sacrifices to make it happen. I had to forget what everyone else was thinking or saying, and it's still hard. When a strong woman makes goals for herself and works towards their own dream, suddenly people think they are abandoning their home role. We are much stronger than that- we strap all of the above on our shoulders and keep trucking. It's not balance though. There's no such way to balance all of these things equally. Week by week one thing gets more attention and another thing gets more sacrifice- job, chores, cooking, training, laundry, family games. My kids think the world of me competing and are my biggest fans, as I am theirs. Countless times I have asked myself am I failing as a wife? Am I doing enough school parties for my kids? My house used to be cleaner than this and I used to cook more- is this okay? And it has just taken time to get used to the new give and take. Even with all of these guilty feelings at times, the worst I have felt is when I stopped training, ignoring myself to care for everyone else. The Best Me is the tired me- when I am working consistently at my goals. And the best I have to offer everyone in my life is the Best Me.
What’s the best advice you’d give to a younger you?
Set more goals. Reach farther, try harder, and never get lazy. You are more capable than you can imagine. I would tell her to never allow limits on her possibilities. When I played high school basketball, I didn't set any goals. Even thought I wasn't sure if I wanted to play in college, I didn't have any short term goals either. I didn't take calculus as a senior "because I didn't need it," and I with one more class credit I would have graduated second in my class- but I didn't have that calculus credit that I didn't need. That was the laziest thing I've done to date. I was also almost fluent in Spanish after three years of learning, and quit that too because I wouldn't need it. Boy that would come in handy when we have Spanish speaking patients that I can't understand anymore- and I while I was in Southern Los Angeles contracted by Oscar De La Hoya's boxing promotion Golden Boy Boxing, and every direction flooded my ears with the Spanish Language.
Share a book, quote and/or idea that's impacted you the most:
One of my best friend's was an Emergency Physician, who was diagnosed with cancer and taken only 8 months later while being an avid runner and triathlon racer- my favorite quote is from his mother Betty- "Can't Never Did Anything." The Relentless Pursuit of You- Shawn Rider Can't Hurt Me- David Goggins The Power of Vulnerability- Brené Brown *Invest your time. Money can be made, time is irreplaceable. Know exactly where you spend it and what you spend it on.
What are you most proud of? Go ahead, boast a little!
Collen and Remy- my two little jiu-jitsu animals. Collen is a math wizard in school, and Remy is reading well beyond her grade. I am so proud of their behavior and their determination. They started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu three years ago at Ground Zero BJJ in Bridgeport, WV- and have since done many tournaments. The discipline and confidence they have learned in this sport makes me an emotional mess of humbling pride! The strength and focus is take to compete is combat sports at any age, especially this young, is so hard to manage and they do it so well.
What is something surprising about you?
Aside from the rough edges of farming, fighting, and an ER trauma junkie- I can decorate some pretty beautiful cakes, have an impressive portrait photography portfolio, can crochet, and make some amazing goat's milk salted caramels candy!
What is your favorite vice/guilty pleasure/strange habit? Come on now, we all have them!
Sugar cookies, cupcakes, and donuts. Sweet carbs at an instant KO in my book! The control is takes to either eliminate them or monitor them in moderation is a big deal! If I can do that, anyone can do anything :)
What's the smartest investment you’ve made for yourself?
Education - I am grateful for the college education I have and can always rely on. Aslo Training- I learned the hard way that just 'working out' wasn't enough. You need a goal, and a plan, and proper Training from the best of someone who can tell you what you need to do to reach the goals of what you want to do. Have a plan.
Who is the Risk Taker Dream Maker(s) that inspires you? Why?
Cathy Hamilton- lifetime athlete, cancer survivor, can kick your butt in the gym any day. Since I started training with Cathy she has been an inspiration to me. She's a no excuses, age isn't a number, go til you stop gal.
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