Sam Burwell, 8th grade: “I like new experiences, new perspectives. I don't want to always be around the same people, seeing the same things.”
Alexandra Steinert-Evoy, English Department, Chapel Coordinator:“Sam's first year at Fay was my first year too. I'd done a lot of work with students who'd come from where Sam was coming from, and I knew I'd be able to talk to him about that. He was friends with two of my advisees, so he'd come along with them to our meetings. I made it clear right away that I could be an ally for Sam. I'm fortunate that he allowed me into his world.”
Sam: “Ms. S-E - she's not my advisor, she's not my teacher, but whenever I need something, she's there. Like with the science fair. I was doing a project in physical science, testing which liquid with vitamin c is most acidic. I was running behind, and the facilities were closed, so she took me to her house so I could finish the experiment and get it ready.”
Alex: “My role in Sam's life is dictated by Sam. Like every adult at Fay, I play the role that Sam - that any student - needs me to play at the moment: teacher, counselor, friend. That's why we're here: to meet the needs of our students.”
Danette: “Sam's into the academics. Spanish is really important to him now. He's also started thinking a lot about body image. But he'll change. He'll take another track. I want him to do that - explore, try something new.”
Sam: “I like singing, bowling, movies, hanging out with friends. I ran for class president - and lost by two votes. I applied to be a proctor - and I made that. Proctors monitor study time for other students and try to be someone to look up to, so newer students feel comfortable.”
Alex: “I can say that of all the things he's done at Fay, I'm most proud of two things: his academic success, and his willingness to be the only boy on the varsity volleyball team.”
Sam: “I just wanted to play. That's all. I'd never played before I came to Fay; I just watched other people. In my first year I decided to try out, and I made the junior varsity team. This year I was captain and got the MVP award. Coach LeBrun said I was a good player, but the important thing was that I also motivated my teammates.”
Alex: “I'll tell you something else. We had a performance poetry group come to campus, and they asked students to recite famous poems. Sam chose to write - and perform - his own poem instead.”
Sam: “It was the first poem I'd ever written. My English teacher suggested that I try it. It was about my father, how he accepts me. But you wouldn't know that if you didn't know me. The meaning was hidden.”
Danette: “Whatever he wants to try, I say try it. Take that chance.”
Sam: “When I first got here, one of the biggest things on my mind was race. Where I come from, everyone is black. That's not true here. It was weird at first. But then I figured: it lets me see a new side of things. I've got friends from all over the world - Latin America, Europe, Asia. I know I can be too one-sided at times. Now I can see things from other perspectives.”
Alex: “No matter where you're coming from, when you arrive at Fay, that's a privilege. I want to do my best to help students understand that privilege and what it means for them, for their role in the world. This kind of education is a gift. You can use it to be an agent of change.”
Danette: “Sam's independent. He knows his own mind. As a parent, I can't get in the way of that. And I want him to get all the support he can. Your parents aren't enough.”
Alex: “I've seen Sam become more focused, more confident, more sure of his identity. That kind of growth comes with growing pains. He has the potential to do great things - and he's already a leader. What we try to do here is help kids become responsible, mature leaders.”
Sam: “I was chosen to be one of the leaders of the Diversity Committee. It's a group of students that meets to discuss diversity issues; we also try to teach other people at Fay about those issues. We gave one presentation at the morning meeting where I came out from behind a mirror and said what people might think of me because I'm black: maybe I have a big family or live a certain lifestyle. I don't. It's just a reflection of the way people classify other people. I don't think of myself as only black, or only any one thing. I just think of myself as myself. That's good enough.”