Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Ayoade.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up in the city of New York, I was introduced to real hardships at a young age. My mother and father were always able to support my brothers and I despite the circumstances. Since my mother and father worked throughout the day and were in school obtaining their degrees, I was introduced to various after school programs and daycare’s. During this time at my young age, I realized that I was given an opportunity by my parents and the people who helped me in those programs to not become a statistic of failure based on where I grew up. I carried this understanding throughout my childhood and throughout most of my life now. I have looked at all the people who have helped me become successful right now in my life and decided how can I be that helping hand to a kid or person who grew up in a similar situation like myself. However, I was not always consistent with this mindset until I finally started college.
In 2005, my parents moved my brothers and I to Houston, Texas. It was a huge life adjustment to make being a city kid from the Northeast to moving down south to Texas. Outside of the temperature, I have grown used to Houston, and definitely consider it a second home. When I started attending high school, I was not very involved in extracurricular activities and really just focused on myself and nothing else. In hindsight, it did have a negative impact for me when I was applying to colleges and ending up staying at home and taking classes at the University of Houston. In 2014, I decided to transfer to The University of Texas at San Antonio to finish out my education. The reason I picked the school is because my older brother was an alumni and encouraged me to attend and get out of my comfort zone, and I wanted a fresh start to start making an impact like I always wanted to. Looking back now, that was one of the best decisions I made. I became highly involved in multiple organizations at UTSA as soon as I started there. Eventually, I re-established a student organization with other leaders on campus and became the president, and the organization has continued being successful since our departure. I met some of my closest friends to this day from UTSA and fostered relationships and connections that have helped my continued success.
Since graduating UTSA in 2017, I have dedicated my time to always be aware on how I am impacting someone that I meet or my brothers, friends, and colleagues. I am thankful of my experiences and hardships because it taught me more about myself and how you can handle what life throws at you. Even where I am today in life, I just hope to continue to grow as an individual and leave something positive in people’s lives. I believe you don’t have to have a lot of money or be a certain status to make change in this world.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think anything you set in life goes exactly how you plan it. I learned that the hard way after graduating college. I was blessed enough to have a job opportunity as soon as I graduated from UTSA, and started working in San Antonio. I had planned for myself that I was going to work in San Antonio for about two years and then go back to school at UTSA, and get my Master’s in Business Administration. The problem was that I wasn’t happy with my job or current circumstances, I found myself feeling mentally stuck in San Antonio and not passionate about the work I was doing. I knew deep down I only took the job for the money and nothing else, I chose to be comfortable instead of pursuing my own aspirations and goals. With that came post-graduate depression but not from a financial struggle but a mental one. Being in a routine was hard, especially leaving college when everyday was something relatively new or spontaneous. After a while, I decided to leave the position and pursue my passion but then I found myself struggling with how to do that and be financially stable. In the end I decided to move back to Houston in the summer of 2018. Since moving back, I am now working a job I love that allows me to pursue my goals outside of work and impact people everyday. I’m grateful for the struggles that life after college brings, it allowed me to put things in perspective and understand that its more about the journey and not being the first to finish the race.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Impact, Motivate, Change Project story. Tell us more about the business.
Impact, Motivate, Change Project(I.M.C) is an ongoing community service initiative geared towards being the impact you want to see in the world. Focused on changing lives and the betterment of communities in Houston, Texas the people involved in the organization do it with passion, faith and love for all people. The organization raises money for scholarships for college students across the state of Texas as well as the United States. Also, the organization host service projects in the city of Houston such as book drives, scholarship donations, funding and sponsoring of local city events. We hope everyone who joins and participates in our projects use it as a gateway to start their own initiatives and give back to communities in need through acts of service and mentorship.
I started I.M.C in March of 2018, I realized before moving back to Houston that I don’t need a lot of money or success to start helping those less fortunate than me. I realized all you need is a support system of like-minded individuals who want to go in the world and impact lives in a positive way. At first, I was going to start the organization as a mentorship and public speaking program to help reach out to people and communities but I knew I.M.C could be so much more. Since then, the proudest accomplishments we have made was starting a scholarship application for students to apply and raising $2500 in funds for the upcoming Fall 2019 school semester. Also in May of this year, we were able to host a summer book drive with students from Houston Baptist University at Bastian Elementary School. At the book drive we gave out 120+ books, bookmarks, and snacks for students grade K-5. I think what sets I.M.C. apart from other businesses and organizations is the people involved, everyone who has been involved in our projects come from different backgrounds, life experiences, and age groups. Even though some of these people don’t know each other they all come together for one common goal and build bonds and friendships through these experiences.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I would say that I have been lucky and fortunate enough to have people in my life who support me. Also, to have those same people challenge me to become the best possible person of myself. I think luck has played a role in the small and big moments in my life. I would say that I am just blessed more than anything to be in the position where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 8322363942
- Email: impactmotivatechangeproject@gmail.com
- Instagram: @impactmotivatechangeproject
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