Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Castro.
Samantha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up in a small town with a population of no more than 3.5k – being ambitious wasn’t something we knew much about. Eagle Lake, TX was mainly a farming town and people flocked to the town for the hunting seasons; seeing as it was the Goose Hunting Capital of the World. I grew up waiting tables at my grandparent’s Restaurant. That is where I learned responsibility, motivation, dedication, and drive.
In our High School, we didn’t have many different types of paths to follow. When people asked me what I’d want to do after High School, my response was – “Probably just be a nurse or dental hygienist,” because honestly, that is what most females that weren’t into agriculture did. It wasn’t until my Junior year, my Speech teacher, Melody Grigar suggested something that changed my life. She could tell I was passionate about being on the yearbook staff and got excited about all things that came with it. She suggested that I look into design as my future path, and that is where the spark began.
Since then, my passion for design drove me to the place I am today. I let that spark, that small flame grow into something bigger. I didn’t want to settle for doing something in my life – just because I HAD to – I wanted to do something because I was motivated to. This road to just get to where I am at 28 was in no way easy – starting college, my little sisters heart condition, moving to a different place and then back to a more familiar city, full-time student, full-time employee, then unexpected new mother, full-time mother, then back to finish school being driven by another force, part-time internship, then getting to the top of that mountain I was forever climbing. I did it.
I found the desire to create and imagine bigger than myself. I found unique elements of everything I saw in life. I followed my path – the path that I was guided to – and have set out on this path to become something bigger than myself. No matter what I do in this life, one of my goals is to motivate others like myself, young individuals, strong females, and all people questioning where their path begins – it’s looking within yourself, and finding that spark. Tell me what you’re passionate about – not what this world tells thinks you should be. Be you in all you do, and following your dreams.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’d like to meet someone that has never had any struggles along their way. For myself, things we challenging all the time. College was the most difficult. Never did I expect to become a mother at the young age of 22 – as if college wasn’t hard enough. I spent 5 out of the 7 days a week working for HEB – there I was motivated to become more within the company. They saw I had passion in all I did – even if it was just being a leader in the produce department.
On top of that, I spent 3-4 partial days as a full-time student at the Art Insitute working towards a degree. Then, life began to grow. Inside me, I carried the most wonderful gift I never imagined I’d have. While pregnant, I was put on bed rest due to Pre-Eclampsia – this required me to withdraw from four classes I was in during that quarter until after I’d be able to return from maternity leave. Once I was able to get back into class, I was then driven by something else – something new. It wasn’t just the passion I started out within the beginning, it was more now.
I wanted to become more for the new part of me I now brought into this world. So when I got back into school, I planned to work harder than I ever did before – because of my son Bryce. I continued to work full-time to provide, go to school full-time to catch up with where I left off, take on my senior internship, and be a full-time mom all at the same time. As a woman, I am so proud of myself getting over those hills.
Today, I face more challenges. I am a full-time employee for Academy Sports + Outdoors. There, I work as a web designer on a daily, Monday-Friday basis. After work, I work diligently on my freelance work for River Oaks Country Club and the US Men’s Clay Court Championship. Being able to do both makes me most proud. I would never have thought that I’d be apart of something that I believe to be so honorable. When I was asked to take on the freelance project with ROCC, I was excited but nervous. Would I be able to handle that?
A full-time employee, and a full-time mother – was I going to be able to do more, again? YES. I accepted the challenge and completed my first independent 200-page publication in 2016-2017. During the months of January-March, this mommy got limited amounts of sleep. Sometimes running on at most 10 hours of sleep for a week – things were tough but so rewarding. I never was able to say “I’m proud of myself for the things I’ve accomplished” until last year. Now, I am proud of all I have done and excited about where I have yet to go.
sCASTRO Designs – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
sCASTRO Designs was officially established in 2016, but it was always inside me. I work as a solo graphic artist mainly for River Oaks Country Club and the US Men’s Clay Court Championship. To say the least, this is the project/client I am most proud of – because they’re giving me opportunities to grow. They are my first “freelance client” to ever have obtained.
Over the past 5 years, I have been involved in creating 2015, 2016, 2017, and soon the 2018 Program that is revealed at the yearly ATP Tennis Tournament. My specialty is mainly in publication design and creative branding – but to say that is all I’ve focused on would be a lie. I find it takes a strong individual to accept a project, manage it alone, brainstorm, strategize and concent and create a project from start to finish. I pride myself on being organized in all I do and creating lasting relationships with clients.
Any designer is willing to take on a project to make some quick cash. I find that really getting to know your client, understanding what they’re looking for, being open to ideas and criticism and building from that makes a designer stronger. I don’t believe in rising on my own… my clients and I rise together because of the creative/client relationships that are formed.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Defining success can be done in many ways. I believe that I have been successful this far because all I have overcome and accomplished on my own. I am here to make an impact. Whether that be in my child’s life – or at work – or in my clients business practices…
I am up for a challenge. I will never say YES to something I can not commit myself to. If I commit my time and dedication to something, I intend on giving that task at hand all that I have in me. So being successful can come in many ways – but in my eyes, when achieving something you’ve put your everything into – that is the greatest feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.scastrodesigns.com
- Phone: 9797581223
- Email: scastrodesigns@gmail.com
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