Who are you?
D’antal Sampson.
Law Student. Activist. Creative. Former Queen’s University Varsity Football Student-Athlete. uOttawa Law Student. The Efe Magazine Guy.
At Queen’s, I graduated as a 4-year Varsity Football Student-Athlete, where I received the honour of Academic All-Canadian in 2018. While there, I was the Conference Finance and Sponsorship coordinator for the Queen’s Black Academic Society (QBAS), and the photography director at Spoon Queen’s U. I graduated with a BAH in Sociology; with a focus in artificial intelligence (AI), cyberspace, and fighting tech-facilitated injustices. There, I also received a Certificate in Law. In my current capacity at uOttawa Law, I am the VP of events for Elephant in the Room (EITR), a mental health initiative amongst the law student population, as well as the Second Year Representative for the Law and Technology Student Society. In 2019, I was on the CLSS (Common-Law Student Society) Internal Affairs Committee Exec as the Club Coordinator, where I managed law student clubs and oversaw their affairs. At Efe, I do whatever needs to be done to make sure you are receiving the best quality content possible.
What inspires you?
If there is one thing I strive to be, it is unapologetically myself at all times. I’m inspired by anybody who has the courage to be genuine, even if it means a bit of discomfort. Everything I do, I do with authenticity and humility. People inspire me; passion inspires me. There is nothing I love more than listening to passionate people speak. I am enamoured by the everyday superheroes who do extraordinary things; those who do more than they say. Because of these people, I fell in love with doing, and I strive to make the greatest impact I can on as many people as possible.
What’s in your closet?
Nothing special – but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Fashion gives me the freedom to express myself and be authentically me in any and every space I’m in. I love pushing the envelope and adding my own bit of flare to simple concepts be it through jewelry, patterns and/or subtle details. I especially love throwing together unusual or odd style combinations for a unique look. My favourite places to shop are little boutique stores and thrift shops. I love finding atypical local pieces. Value Village is a personal favourite; where I tend to find my staple graphic black t-shirts, among some other vintage finds. My fashion philosophy is to try anything and everything. Versatility is all I know.
What’s your self-care routine?
I tend to keep it simple, but I love some self-pampering. Skin-care wise, I typically try to cleanse my face twice daily, exfoliate once or twice a week, and always keep my skin hydrated. I enjoy a face mask, weekly or bi-weekly. I also try my best to make sure there is some SPF in my routine. Manicures are my favourite; I love to keep my hands groomed and in good shape, given that I’m always using them!
Besides Efe, what are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about life; I love learning and I love doing. Any opportunity to learn is welcomed with open arms, even if it may be through my own shortcomings. Actually, especially if it may be through my own shortcomings. If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. As a young black man, I thoroughly understand my place in the world, while also understanding that I am in a position of privilege to be a voice of the unheard. Thus, I am a fierce and tireless advocate of human rights and justice for those who need it. The opportunity to be law-educated and put it to use in favour of those who have been failed by the system is one I will never take for granted. I would like to continue to strive for excellence and use the law as a platform that can be leveraged in favour of those who have been systemically disadvantaged.
Being a former athlete, fitness is always something I’ve been passionate about. This passion has brought me some opportunity, and in the summer of 2018, I had the pleasure of providing elite athletic training to young athletes. There is nothing more rewarding than watching others improve and succeed. Like anything, pushing your body to its physical limits is an incredible test of mental fortitude. I love a challenge. I love understanding movements and maximizing my own potential. Regardless though, I love to have fun. I encourage everyone to find their fun in fitness. Be it through sport, strength training, or simply going for walks. Before this pandemic, I really got into hot yoga. I was absolutely terrible at it, but it was incredible. I’ve never done anything more physically difficult in my life. A big shout-out to all the yogis out there. Amidst the quarantine I have taken it upon myself to build a home gym. We’ve got weighted vests, kettlebells, resistance bands and sandbags. We recently just installed a multi-grip pull-up bar and Olympic rings. I’ll probably never purchase a gym membership again.
If I could have it exactly my way, I’d have 10 different careers (I just might do so anyway). Quarantine has given me the opportunity to learn and enjoy some new things. I’ve been leisure reading a bunch, which is quite a different experience than reading for school. I love to cook, so I’ve been taking my time to create and try some new recipes and techniques. I’ve also taken up woodworking and learning the guitar! Stay tuned!