Elijah Sams in his Dress Blues uniform, after graduating from boot camp.
Most FFA members know the FFA motto by heart: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” For Elijah Sams, though, that final line — “Living to Serve” — isn’t just something he learned. It is something he lives out and acts upon.
Sams is known for his warm, welcoming smile and big, caring heart. Most of all, he is known for his desire to serve others above himself. In the Palmetto FFA Chapter, he was known for being the first to step up and volunteer, helping with anything that needed to be done. He was always eager to help and lend a helping hand, whether he knew you or not. During his time in FFA, he always advocated among members for the importance of serving others.
“I have always loved putting others before myself and seeing the heartfelt impact it leaves,” Sams says. “I love seeing other people happy and taken care of, and serving them any way I can.”
After graduating high school, Sams’ commitment to serving others did not come to an end. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he will go on to serve our country.
“I feel that the FFA helped me see the importance of serving others because it helped me with leadership skills, built my character and strengthened my community,” Sams says. “Living to serve others is not just a saying in my life, but it is a lifestyle and who I am at the core. Any member should always be eager and willing to serve others no matter what it costs because, at the end of the day, you are helping those in need, and it’ll shape you into a better person.”
Sams’ actions truly show that “Living to Serve” isn’t just a motto FFA members are taught; it’s a lifestyle that continues long after the blue jacket is hung up.
