During his 13 years in HISD, Lamar High School graduate Michael Hamad collected quite a few superlatives. He maintained perfect attendance from kindergarten through his senior year, and he was named the 2024 senior class valedictorian. Maintaining perfect grades is a herculean task on its own, but Hamad’s ambitions far surpass going above and beyond for his own acclaim. In addition to his exceptional academic record, Hamad has a vision for a brighter and more equitable future, and he has big plans to make it happen.
Hamad describes himself as dedicated, persistent, and compassionate—all qualities that are evident when you consider the organizations and advocacy groups in which he spends his time participating. He has volunteered with UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative to aid disaster preparedness in Houston, served as the chair of the Mental Health Committee of the Houston Mayor’s Youth Council, participated in the Youth Police Advisory Council, and worked on the Houston Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights Committee which works to ensure equitable access to natural spaces for all youth. That is an extensive resume for anyone, let alone a person with top-notch grades who has never missed a single day of school.
“In HISD, you get to meet people from every walk of life,” Hamad said. “I have friends from every single background and socioeconomic status. It provides you the opportunity to not be closed up in a bubble, but to have your mind open to so many different things, good or bad, and meeting so many people. It’s been eye-opening and a lesson every step of the way.”
An empathetic person since childhood, Hamad began volunteering at a young age alongside his parents and in community projects in school with Meals on Wheels and the Houston Food Bank. Hamad credits his drive to improve the world to his immigrant grandparents and his father who came to the United States in search of opportunities to build new lives for their families.
Hamad became aware of the importance of youth advocacy work when he became involved with HISD’s Student Congress in 2020. Hamad came to understand just how numerous and underrepresented youth voices are in spaces that design their futures.
“Youth are often forgotten about,” he said. “They’re told that they’re just kids who don’t know enough, but working with [HISD Student Congress] really opened my eyes to how important youth voice is, especially when it comes to education policies, the opportunities being built for them to open doors for themselves and be successful in their lives.”
During his time with the HISD Student Congress, Hamad had the opportunity to work closely with a defense attorneys on an actual Supreme Court case concerning the First Amendment rights of a Pennsylvania high school student. This experience was Hamad’s first exposure to the ins and outs of law and justice and was a large part of the reason he chose Northwestern University to pursue a degree in Political Science and Business, become a lawyer, and eventually, a Supreme Court Justice.
Hamad references empathy as a driving factor in all the work he does and hopes to leave a legacy that encourages other young people to take care of others.
“I think the best thing you can do is just be kind,” he said. “We learned that in Kindergarten. Be kind and make a positive impact for tomorrow, since the world is changing and we as youth are the future of our nation and our world. Help spearhead that change and make a more positive tomorrow, not just for you, but for all those around you.
“When I leave this earth one day, I hope to have made an impact on others. Whether it’s saving one life or helping billions of people in the world. I want to be able to make a difference.”