Have you had the chance to meet our motivated and multitalented Content Specialist? Sami joined the Tulip Tree team fresh out of college in June of 2023. Though she swears that she is an open book, we are sure there is more to her than meets the eye. Read on to learn about our deep dive into all things Sami Hallaway.
What do you like most about your job?
I love that every day at work I get to do things that challenge my creativity. It is always fun to push yourself to try something new and grow from it, especially when you have an incredibly talented team to bounce ideas off of. But as someone who also really likes to be organized, I appreciate the organization that goes into it.
What is your proudest moment at Tulip Tree?
It was probably the first blog I had written. I was nervous about the topic and that the end product wasn’t quite right, but it was received really well by my team and the client. I have loved writing blogs ever since.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a cashier at my uncle’s hardware store in Kasson. Starting in high school, I spent four summers stocking shelves and working the register. Though I could tell you where the items were in the store, I had no idea how to use them, so I wasn’t much help with questions. Good thing my coworkers were always there to save the day and that I chose a career outside of the family business.
What is your favorite pastime outside of work?
I am such a bookworm. It is pretty common to find me huddled up in a blanket with a cup of tea and a good book, and not moving until it’s finished. Before you ask, I don’t have a favorite, but The Song of Achilles, The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, and Harry Potter are all high on the list.
Tell us one fact about you that most people don’t know.
I was once held hostage for an hour by a raccoon. The story includes a raccoon that faked its death, three scared teenage girls, and poor sound effects. Need more info? Well, here you go. One day my sisters and I were in our shed and when we went to leave, we saw a raccoon laying right outside the door. Since it was snowing heavily and the raccoon wasn’t moving, we came to the sad conclusion that it had died. Just when we gathered enough courage to open the door and run past it, it got up and started pacing the door. That’s right! Not only was it alive, but it was actually playing the jailer by pacing the length of the door!
Since none of us were willing to make a break for it and risk getting chased by what we could only assume would be an angry raccoon, we did the only thing we could think of… call for backup. Sadly, the backup (AKA our dad) wasn’t home, so we ended up standing at the window and watching the raccoon for an hour, hoping it would let us leave before our dad showed up and scared it away. I have not been able to see racoons the same way since.
What is the one food you cannot resist?
Watermelon all the way. It is just so refreshing and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus, it’s hydrating! How could I say no to that?
What would you name your boat if you had one?
The Floaty Boaty. It’s not a witty name, but it will bring a smile to your face every time you say it.
What would you sing at karaoke night?
You can’t go wrong with Taylor Swift, but it is a tie-up between Love Story and Paper Rings… I guess I’ll just have to sing both.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I’m an introvert. Though I love being around others, the second my social battery starts to run low I start planning my quiet night in: a movie night (comfort movies and popcorn included, of course).
What is your favorite vacation?
I am not sure if favorite is the best word, but this one is definitely the most memorable. During my sister’s senior year of high school, my whole family went down to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. During this trip, I faced three of my fears all in one day: my fear of heights when we climbed up to zip lines with no safety harnesses, my fear of deep, dark water when we went snorkeling, and my fear of caves. Did I mention that we zip-lined into the water at the entrance of the cave and then proceeded to go cave snorkeling? Safe to say it was a day to remember.
What’s your go-to coffee order and where is it from?
An iced chai latte with oat milk from Caribou is my comfort drink, but if I want to shake it up (literally), an iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso from Starbucks is my next go-to.
Learn more about Sami and fun facts about the Tulip Tree team here.
