At STH, everyone from faculty to students throw around the phrase “a man of Saint Thomas” when describing what students should strive to be. They talk about it in the classroom, on the field, and especially on retreats. To many students, it can seem like a difficult title to live up to, modeling your life around faith and serving your Eagle Brothers. They are not wrong either, it is difficult to act this way and even harder to do it every day, which is why a student like Obinna Umeh is so rare.
Obinna is one of those students that you see everywhere doing what seems like everything. He takes several advanced classes including AP Chemistry, he’s an athlete on both varsity football and varsity track, he’s a member of several clubs, and he attends faith formation events regularly.
It is not uncommon for Umeh to spend up to 12 hours at school in one day, nearly two thirds of his waking hours.
“The biggest thing is becoming a man that I can be proud of when I look back at all of this… I want to let everyone know that whatever gift you have, you can do it… I want to let people know that I see how hard [they] are working” Umeh ‘26 said.
His motivation doesn’t stop at being a role model for himself and others; however, he also says that he owes his motivation in large part to his relationship with God. “God humbled me and showed me that my identity… is in Christ…serving the lord and being a kind person, that’s my motivation” Umeh ‘26 said.
His relationship with God and his concern for others isn’t the only thing that guides his actions, he also carries with him several mantras and bible verses that help him push himself in the classroom, on the track, and on the field.
“Isaiah 41:10 ‘Fear not, for the lord your God is with you wherever you go’ and 2 Timothy 1:7 ‘For the lord did not create a spirit of fear within us but a spirit of love, kindness, and strength.’ Those two verses I always say in my head before practices and before games, and it gives me this no retreat no surrender mentality… I will fear no man because I fear Christ…that’s what I take to the classroom too.” Umeh ‘26 said.
This kind of drive to succeed not just for others but also for Christ is what the Basilian Fathers had in mind when they founded Saint Thomas. The drive in their students to succeed not just in the classroom or on the gridiron but to succeed in following Christ and doing all things for that devotion. It is that devotion that in large part motivates Umeh to also be a role model for those around him.
He admitted that in his younger years he didn’t live by the same standards that he does today. He didn’t treat everyone with kindness and respect and he felt almost two-faced. After some introspection during his time at Saint Thomas, he said he has in many ways found his identity as a true follower of Christ. This transformation showed through especially when he was asked how he would respond to a prospective student’s view of him as a role model.
“I would tell him that I am honored to be a role model of [yours]… you can achieve whatever your gift is… so don’t be like me but instead, be the version of yourself that you feel your Heavenly Father, God, calling you to be… you can be the best version of yourself and that’s going to be more than enough,” Umeh ‘26 said.
Umeh’s example of faith and devotion is one that we can all look up to, whether it be personal, social, academic, or athletic. He helps remind us of how God calls us to be devoted, strong, and most importantly, kind.
