From Kalihi to Cambridge: Sam Atuatasi's Journey to Harvard

This fall, Class of 2026 graduate Sam Atuatasi is headed to Harvard University to study Astrophysics and his entire family is relocating from Hawaiʻi to Boston to support him as he begins this next chapter. We sat down with Sam to talk about his years at Damien, his path to Harvard, and what it means to carry the Damien legacy with him.

Here's our conversation, in his own words.

Damien: What grade did you come to Damien and what did you think your future was going to be?

Sam: I came into Damien my freshman year, right at the edge of the end of most COVID era restrictions. At the time, we were all still masked up and social distancing, so my academic future seemed pretty cloudy. What I knew for sure, however, was that I would be secure in my time at Damien, which was extremely welcoming and made my transition to high school as smooth as possible.

Damien: What are some of your favorite memories from your years at Damien?

Sam: Having had the opportunity to have so many unique and transformative moments, it's extremely hard to pick only a few of these memories. One of these moments would be the Men's Encounter I participated in my junior year and led as a senior this past year. Many past Damien alumni have always shared the impact that this retreat has had on their lives, and as an alumni and past rector leader of the program itself, I completely share their sentiment. It is a must experience retreat for any upperclassmen at Damien. Another key memory that stands out would be just the moments and memories that I've shared with all of the friends I've made during my time at Damien, from Homecoming to formal dances, each of these events have helped me find my community that I have today.

Damien: Was there a teacher, coach, or mentor who made a lasting impact on you? How?

Sam: It sounds extremely cliche, but really, there is no way that I can give one, two, or even ten individual names of people who have largely impacted me during my time at Damien. Every year, what I looked forward to the most, was coming back to students and teachers who treated me like family. From Theology to the Arts to the very core classes, not only do they teach you the content and lessons that will help push you in the right direction, they are there to support you in everything outside of their class. It is an understatement to say that they are some of the most resilient and caring people that I can claim to know personally. I cannot thank them enough for their constant support throughout my time at Damien, and for them to know that their support for the students does not go unnoticed.

Damien: When did you first start thinking about attending Harvard?

Sam: Harvard has always been a standout school for me, especially when I first began narrowing down my college list. One of the absolutely largest key points that had drawn me to the school was when a former Harvard alum explained, "your professors aren't only going to be the ones teaching you, they'll have written your textbooks." The opportunity to study with mentors and individuals who have performed groundbreaking research firsthand is one that you can find scarcely elsewhere.

Damien: What was the application process like?

Sam: The process was definitely a journey to get through, from writing essays to organizing activities to getting recommendations. Applying to college absolutely takes time, and was a major part of the beginning of my senior year. A large part of my success in my application was due to the help and guidance of the many teachers and staff around me who helped advise me in shaping the way I portrayed myself to the admissions staff.

Damien: What was going through your mind when you found out you had been accepted?

Sam: It was an extreme blur of excitement, emotions, and just feeling every single type of way that has really just emanated from that day in March. Receiving college app decisions on its own can be such a nerve wracking activity, and opening up one from Harvard can only be so much more as you would imagine. We opened it up, just our family, and really spent the day celebrating and looking more into the details of the school. Getting into Harvard wasn't just an individual feat; it really was only possible due to the massive support systems that I have surrounding me even to this day.

Damien: What do you plan to study, and what inspired that choice?

Sam: I'm currently planning on concentrating in Astrophysics, studying more about the creation and matter of the universe and how all of that matter works. Really, I would think there's two major points of influence leading me here, the first being my experience in Mr. Trauger's AP Physics. That class really allowed me to gain such a love for physics, whereas beforehand I always figured I would get into some type of science, not really narrowing down yet to what field. Physics was taught to me in a way that made it seem like real-life puzzles that individuals had the ability to solve using math and deriving formulas that had been derived from former scientists. I would also say working on my research paper in AP Research focusing on interstellar objects also allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and love of the cosmos and want to study it more.

Damien: Your family recently moved from Hawaiʻi to Boston to support you. What has that transition been like for all of you?

Sam: It has been an extraordinary journey so far. As we transfer over to Boston, it's not only a time where we are looking forward to the new adventures that are to come in the future, but also reflecting on all of the memories that we've made in our time here in Hawai'i. My brother Max will be continuing his education entering his junior year at Catholic Memorial, another Edmund Rice Christian Brother School, an important choice to us due to the importance of the values that our family sees in the Edmund Rice education network. It will definitely be a lot of work these next coming weeks, but is one that is a positive change for our family.

Damien: What are you most excited or nervous about as you begin this next chapter?

Sam: I think that it's a mix of both excitement and nervousness, primarily because of how such a big change this is. Moving over 5,000 miles away from a small, Catholic, private school to a class size of almost 1,600 is a large adjustment, but one that I am genuinely excited for. Getting to interact and receive so many new perspectives and ideas is just one of the benefits of transitioning to Harvard. As this new chapter begins, I look forward to seeing how my education at Damien is used to further promote a mindset of respect, responsibility, and community mindedness.

Damien: What are your goals during your time at Harvard?

Sam: Beyond my academic goals, it is really to gain insight into my future and how I can gain the tools to excel in the future. For my first year, I hope to adjust to the college lifestyle, as well as gain a new social network. While I do look forward to all of the new friendships and mentorships I will gain within Cambridge, it is also important to me to maintain the relationships that I have made here at home. No matter what, my biggest goal is to experience Harvard to the fullest, and make sure that I make the absolute most of my time there.

Damien: Where do you hope your education takes you after graduation?

Sam: As I mentioned before, I am interested in Astrophysics, which will most likely take me to grad school after receiving my undergraduate degree. Whether that means I will continue my studies at Harvard or elsewhere, I am excited for all of the possibilities. Beyond that, it is much too soon to tell, but I am hoping to get involved within some type of academic research or the space industry.

Damien: Damien's mission is to prepare young men and women for life through faith, service, and leadership. As you begin this journey at Harvard, what does it mean to carry the Damien legacy with you?

Sam: It means quite a bit to carry the Damien history with me. There's quite a bit of weight and expectation as only the second student from Damien to attend Harvard, furthermore as a Samoan coming from Hawai'i, but it is an exciting concept for me whenever I think about it. Damien's motto, Viriliter Age, "to act courageously," meshes extremely well with the motto of Harvard, Veritas, "truth." To be from Damien, you must carry the courage and strength to face real-world problems and issues, equipped with the knowledge and personality traits of an alumni. Using these skills allows one to find the truth in our lives, whether that would be promoting new academic research or simply advocating for the helpless, a pillar of Edmund Rice's philosophies. Each of these lessons are ideals that I will carry on not only through my time at Harvard but even further, throughout my adult life. No matter what, I will always be at my core, a Damien Monarch. Viriliter Age!