When it came to choosing a career, the word “therapist” didn’t cross 24 year old Sam Freda’s mind in the slightest until junior year of college while attending the University of Wisconsin Madison.
Starting off as a Mathematics and Engineering major, Freda (Loyola Class of 2018) thought he had his life figured out.
“I’ve always been really good at math so I thought the field of engineering would be an easy major for me and lead me to be the moneymaker of the family,” Freda said.
It wasn’t until the end of his sophomore year when Freda felt the pressure of picking his junior year classes which caused him to think long and hard about his future life outside of college, beer and frat parties.
Numbers had consumed Freda’s life in many ways. Freda realized “College math is not at all like high school math. It’s 10 million times harder. My math teacher doesn’t even speak English.”
Freda decided right then and there in the closed corners of his college dorm room surrounded by mountains of books and homework to switch his major to something with fewer formulas and a few more people. That spur of the moment decision changed frat boy Freda’s life forever.
“If I hadn’t decided to switch my major to Psychology I would never be where I am today,” Freda said.
Two years later Freda scored a rockstar job as a Registered Behavioral Technician working with Autistic Children at By Your Side Autism Therapy Services.
“As an RBT my role is to implement behavior reduction and skill acquisition programs written up by my board certified behavior analyst (BCBA),” Freda said. “I run these programs, collect data and follow up with my BCBA with any questions or concerns regarding each client.”
If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, Freda’s mom Victoria Freda loved expressing her pride in her golden boy “schmoop.”
“Growing up Sam was a very hard worker, loving, genuine and always had a sweet spot for children,” Mrs. Freda said. “As a mother how can you not be proud of your children, but being Sam’s mom has made it easy to be proud of him and everything he does.”
Mrs. Freda wholeheartedly believes that Freda’s major switch idea was the best decision he’s ever made. She always knew he was an academic weapon, but the spark she saw in Freda was not from mathematics or engineering, it was from helping others.
“Sam has always been patient with everyone ever since he was a kid,” Mrs. Freda said.
Because of this love and passion for helping others at such a young age, Freda proudly said, “I have found my calling in life, it feels incredible and I get overly excited when one of my clients picks up on the things I’m teaching them. When the children see me get excited, it reinforces their excitement to keep learning which creates a very productive and positive environment.”
Freda and his clients aren’t the only ones who feel proud. Supervisor Sarah from By Your Side Autism Therapy Service loves seeing Freda excel with his clients.
“Hiring Sam was the best decision I ever made when it comes to the growth of this company,” supervisor Sarah explained. “When I see Sam put his all into helping these children it creates such joy and pride on my face that I can’t even describe in words.”
The world is starving for male therapists and Freda is here to feed the hungry.
“The boys that come in to be treated here always want to see Sam because they feel so comfortable and easygoing with him just solely based on the fact that he’s a boy just like them,” supervisor Sarah said.
In a female dominated field (64 percent versus 35 percent), Freda inspires others to change the flow of society and encourages men just like him to help others in the way he has helped.
“One of my client’s dads walked in the office the other day just to tell me how much he appreciates me and that if he could go back in time he would change his job to be mine because of how much I have impacted his child and how no one has been able to get through to his child but me,” Freda said.
Who would’ve thought, Sam Freda, 24, the messiah of therapy. As Taylor Swift is to half of the nation, Sam is to autistic boys in need of therapy. No wonder they also chant his name when they see him. “Sam! Sam! Sam! Sam!”
