Senior Spotlight: Sam Dixon Continues His Lasallian Service

Integral major Sam Dixon '22 is the recipient of one of this year’s Sister Clare Wagstaff, CHS, PhD, AFSC Ministry Awards. At SMC, he served as a Lasallian Peer Minister in the Mission and Ministry Center and performed in the Intercultural Center's Cultural Nights. After graduation, he will live in community with De La Salle Christian Brothers in the Bronx, New York, and serve as a coordinator of the academic experience of three formerly incarcerated college students at Manhattan College. We asked Sam about his experiences here at SMC.

How did you feel when you learned about your Commencement award?

I felt honored that I was being recognized for being a model of the Lasallian mission. When I looked at the names of the past recipients of the award that are on the plaque in MMC, I looked up to them throughout my years. I felt honored knowing that I would serve that same purpose for others.

Tell us about a class or an activity that was special for you. How did it change you?

For my Jan Term of 2020, I did the Lasallian Service Internship. I went to Browning, Montana, where we have a school called De La Salle Blackfeet, on the Blackfeet Nation reservation. That was transformative for many reasons, opening my eyes to how the Lasallian mission is carried out in wildly different contexts. A fourth- through eighth-grade school on a reservation is quite different from, say, De La Salle Concord, here in the Bay Area. This solidified my vocation for wanting to be an educator. That happened while I was there in the classroom. I just knew that was what my calling was.     

What has surprised you the most about your studies at Saint Mary's?

Something that surprised me is the power of collaborative learning…. I think the power of an academic cohort that’s unique about Integral is that you take the same classes, with the same people, and they all progress every year. The Socratic method [is so effective for] discussing ideas. It’s hard to learn when you’re going completely unopposed or unchallenged if you’re in your own world. That was the most surprising thing, how much learning is dependent on others, not just yourself.

Where are you headed next?

My original plan, when I got to Saint Mary’s in the fall of 2017, was to be a Lasallian Volunteer. However, the volunteer network closed in February of this year. I had to come up with something last minute. I really wanted to serve in the Lasallian world and do so outside of a context I was familiar with.

Carrie Davis and Karen McClelland of Mission and Ministry put me in touch with Brother Ed Phelan, who is a very popular, well-known brother, in the Bronx, New York. What I’ll be doing, after I’ve committed, will be living in community with Christian Brothers in the Bronx, and I will be helping provide education at Manhattan College to three formerly incarcerated individuals. I’ll be getting them in touch with academic advisors, financial aid, the registrar. Checking in with their professors, spending time with them, getting them involved with extracurriculars. Just being there to support them in their academic experience. 

I’ve been working at recruiting others [for this mission] from my Integral cohort because some people aren’t quite set for their next year, so I’ve put some students in contact with Brother Ed. I may end up there with another cohort member of mine, which I would love. Part of it is living in community with the Brothers; helping those formerly incarcerated get their higher education; and then trying to build up this service corps to see how far we can take it.

Saint Mary’s wishes Sam Dixon all the best in his future Lasallian efforts.