Engage, Equip, Empower

You picked up some trash at your lunch table? “Man for Others!”

You want to persuade a friend to help you out? “C’mon, be a Man for Others!”

At times when the meaning behind the phrase Men for Others becomes lost, abstract, or weakened, we are fortunate to have exemplary faculty, staff, and alumni models to follow, one of whom is Strake Jesuit alumnus and Social Studies faculty member Mr. Michael Sam Jr. ’11.

Mr. Sam’s experience as a Strake Jesuit student shaped him into the educator and mentor he is today. At times during his years as a student, he felt like he did not fit in. Mr. Sam’s perspective shifted when the upperclassmen students and football players took him under their wings. Because of the confidence instilled in him and the brotherhood extended to him, he eventually became immersed in the Strake Jesuit student experience by joining choir, persevering on the football field, and leading Kairos. “I found places where I could thrive on campus,” Mr. Sam recalls. “That’s still true for students today; there are spaces for everyone to thrive.” In his present roles as a Social Studies faculty member, assistant football and track coach, Black Student Union moderator, and Claver House moderator, Mr. Sam inspires a sense of belonging and helps students see their dreams come to fruition.

Mr. Sam walks with students on their journeys to becoming Men for Others with his infectious laughter and joy, and with a profound commitment to “furthering the mission that changed [his] life.” Social Studies department chair Mr. Dominic Amorosa believes that Mr. Sam is not only a caring colleague but an “impact maker” when it comes to our community. “He’s the kind of teacher and coach that students will talk about when their time here ends,” says Mr. Amorosa.

In Mr. Sam’s mind, a Man for Others is “shaped and compelled by the teachings of Jesus Christ and loves others in a way that is transformative.” Tangibly, Mr. Sam lives out this calling through what he dubs the 3 Es: engage, equip, and empower. Through the 3 Es, Mr. Sam forms connections, helps others build skills and confidence, and empowers students with opportunities to display growth.

A quote by Malcolm X hangs on the wall of Mr. Sam’s office: “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Our students are blessed to prepare for the future as they journey to becoming Men for Others alongside Mr. Sam.