Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Charlotin.
Hi Samuel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I think I have a similar story to most young black men lol. We were raised by a strong single mother who showed us that despite it all we are going to be ok. My mother worked even when she couldn’t, literally, her doctor told her she couldn’t, yet she was still selling plates out the kitchen to provide for her 3 children.
That detail in my story alone is one of my biggest impact points of who I am today, I didn’t know how important my mom was. When I lost my mother at 18, I realized her importance, and that’s when my story began to shape itself for me. I was so used to having her around, making sure we were ok, so to lose her really shaped things into the reality of how hard she was working for us. I went into a deep depression and chose happiness every day but every night I realized how alone I was. All the necessities I needed I was not finding or for better understanding, I was looking in all the wrong places.
I searched for people, in relationships that weren’t good for me. I cried out in frustration every time someone didn’t meet my expectations as if they were supposed to just understand me and the pain I carried. Then I found God, or better yet I noticed Him finally. He was always there you know, I just never let Him in. He’s turned my life around and truly made me smile again. I became a father, became homeless, all around the same time, so when I turned to God, He gave me a home, a wife, a car, and a story to encourage others no matter what you are facing, He gave me purpose to live again!
Today, I am a husband, father, artist, photographer, videographer, tax preparer, youth leader, electronics salesman, content creator, and most importantly a writer. Today, I am surrounded by a community of people who love and care for me, a love I didn’t know I needed, that includes my pastors, my leaders, my big sister, my little bros, my close friends, all my youth, and of course my loving wife and daughter. I think there’s still so much more to experience and learn of course but yeah, I believe that’s where I’m at today!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I think it’s important to note that though all of our roads are different, we are all going to face times of trouble, some more than others. One of the struggles was identifying who I was.
Not knowing who you tend to makes you engage in activities that depreciate the value of your purpose, waste your time, and cause frustration because you’re not doing what makes you happy. I struggled with appreciating what I liked and didn’t like, I was so focused on making others happy, I didn’t know how to make myself happy.
Another struggle was the focus, I didn’t have a focus on my future, I didn’t have a vision of who I would be or where I would be. I was so random. I faced other emotional traumas along the way, losing my father, losing friends, jobs not hiring me, missing opportunities that were made for me, etc.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I currently prepare tax returns in the Orlando/Winter Park area. I specialize in creativity. I love creating, I love strategies that work best for organizations, I love to see the things I love to flourish.
I think I’m most known for my Christianity. All my daily activities revolve around my faith. I’m most proud of my turn around, I was so far away from who I was meant to be, laziness and procrastination were my best friends. I didn’t know how to prioritize anything. I’m still at the beginning stages of who I’m meant to be but growing and gaining.
What sets me apart is nothing but the grace of God, I’m doing things that we are all capable of doing, I just think it depends on if you want to tap in or not, when you focus on, you do what you are supposed to.
What matters most to you? Why?
Faith & family. My faith is just who I am. I am truly nothing without my faith in God. I’m grateful for the relationship that we have and only hope to always improve it.
Family isn’t always blood, and for me, I have blood and nonblood individuals that are a part of my family. The reason is that family has helped me in dark times.
I didn’t understand the importance of family growing up, so to see the positive impact family has on me, I truly value it as one of the most important things in life.
Contact Info:
- Email: charlotin.samuel@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlotinofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samuel.charles.3158652
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8im1lRFceLVcBXInHUGXOQ/featured
