After 25 years as a teacher and school leader, I continue to learn so much from my students all the time. They remind me to dream big, to seek multiple perspectives, and to stand up for what’s right. They remind me not to make assumptions and to love the beauty in each of us.

Excerpts from Michael’s Gateway graduation speech, June 2020:

“I want to be a light in this dark world. I want to spread positivity and inspiration. I want to spread the importance of seeking higher levels of education for minorities. I want to create programs in which people of color will have the opportunity to learn about their history unfiltered and build interest in all sorts of careers. I want to win a Nobel prize in medicine. I want to be an internal physician and researcher to come up with preventive measures for impactful diseases.

But most of all, when people think of Michael Daniel, I don’t want them to say, “He’s one of a kind.” Instead, I want them to say he’s one of many; he’s just found his purpose…

But most of all, when people think of Michael Daniel, I don’t want them to say, ‘He’s one of a kind.’ Instead, I want them to say, ‘He’s one of many; he’s just found his purpose.’

– Michael Daniel, Gateway High School graduation speaker, 2020

To my African American classmates and students of color: I want you to know that you are valuable. You have potential. You are capable, strong, resilient, illustrious and beautiful. You are bright, deserving, loving, caring, immaculate and divine. You are appreciated and pivotal. Your clothes, your hairstyle, your dialect, your taste, your food, your seasoning, your music, your culture, your well being. You are everything and more. You were designed perfectly.”#insidegateway#dreambig