When he was a teenager, Sam was subjected to this so-called “reparative” therapy as his parents tried to change his sexuality. He was beaten, shocked with electricity, and led to believe that he was the only gay person in the world, dying of AIDS alone.

But Sam survived, and now he is devoted to helping others, having been named the Top LGBT Activist in America by Campus Pride in 2010. Sam is currently a student at MIT.

Listen to Sam’s inspirational story when he comes to UCF about how he overcame his past to become the leader he is today.