Andre Sam, a Marshall senior who has shared his lifelong struggle with stuttering, has become an inspiration to many.

Sam is a sixth year senior who plays safety for the Thundering Herd football team and has had a standout season so far. Sam played for McNeese State before transferring to Marshall.   

He first started stuttering at the age of six after his father died followed by his grandfather shortly after. This disorder has stuck with him in his 23 years of life, but he has gained more confidence in his speaking. 

In an interview with Dr. Jamie Maxwell, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Marshall University, Andre said, “Do not stop speaking like I once did.” 

In an article published by westutter.org, they state, “Stuttering is more common among males than females.” The male to female ratio is about 4-to-1. It’s estimated that about 1% of the world’s population stutters, though about 5% of children go through a period of stuttering. Three quarters of those who begin to stutter will recover by late childhood, leaving about 1% of the population with a long-term problem. 

“For someone to try to say what they really want to say, and they can’t say it, it’s hard. For someone who doesn’t know, just take your time with them to make them feel that they can always remain themselves around you. That’s what I look for; I look for people who really want to talk to me, and they know that I stutter.”