Sam Manley has a quote he’d use to sum up his high school experience — it’s from Guardians of the Galaxy, and it goes something like: “What percentage of a plan do you have? I dunno… 12 percent?” For Sam, that captures something true: high school was less about having everything figured out and more about showing up, trying things, and discovering what you’re made of. Four years at Innovation High School gave him plenty of room to do exactly that. If he had to describe his senior year in one word, it would be busy — and one look at how he spent it makes that an understatement.
From Montessori to Innovation
Sam came to Innovation High School from Spokane Public Montessori, where he’d spent all of elementary and middle school. When he heard about a small, project-based charter school, the decision was easy. “As soon as I heard about a small, project-based school, I immediately wanted to go,” he said in his senior spotlight interview. What he found there lived up to the promise. “I have felt almost constantly supported and guided throughout all of my academics,” he said. The school’s small, tight-knit student population meant he found genuinely great friends — people he describes as “the backbone of my entire high school experience.” Having a school that could hold all of his interests at once — theatre, fashion, leadership, advanced academics — was something he didn’t take for granted.
Stages and Stitches
Two programs defined Sam’s time at Innovation more than any others: theatre and fashion. He’s done every side of theatre over four years — backstage crew, stage manager, director, actor — and the experience that will stay with him longest is the final bow of last spring’s production of PUFFS, which he directed and acted in. “The whole environment of our theatre that night was honestly indescribable,” he said. “I was sad and happy and proud of everyone all at once — and I think that will always stick with me.” Many of his friends were graduating that year, and the room held all of it at once. Theatre also shaped his path forward: it’s what he wants to pursue after graduation.
Fashion has been his art class since freshman year, and the growth has surprised even him. Under the guidance of his teacher Ronnie, Sam went from a beginner to a skilled crocheter creating full outfits from scratch. “I would never have anticipated that I would now be a very skilled crocheter making full outfits,” he said. “I would never choose another subject to take for high school.” This spring, his 2026 collection is headed to the runway at Innovation’s annual fashion show — the culmination of a year’s worth of work through Osiris, the school’s advanced fashion program.
Leading with Purpose
Sam has spent three years in ASB, helping plan and run school events, and this year — when ASB became a full class period for the first time — he grew into the role in new ways. His history and leadership teacher Stephen, who has been his ASB advisor since sophomore year, has been his most significant mentor. “He has taught me how to be a leader, how to believe in and push myself, and so many other things I can’t put a name on,” Sam said. “I know he will continue to be a mentor for me well after I graduate.”
Beyond ASB, Sam has made a tangible difference in the lives of his peers. He helped launch Bites2Go at Innovation — a program that picks up weekend meals from 2nd Harvest and quietly places them in classrooms for students to take home. He also helped start a free formal clothing rental service so students can attend dances and events without worrying about cost. “Being part of meeting a basic need — food, access, dignity — is something I’ll carry with me,” he said. He also served as a WA Charters intern during the 2025–2026 school year, and has worked as a student employee and manager at The Grind, Innovation’s on-campus coffee shop.
Growing Into Himself
Sam is quick to name how much he’s changed since freshman year: more confident, better at setting boundaries, more willing to try things that scare him. The biggest thing high school taught him is that he’s more capable than he thought. “I have learned that I am much more capable than I thought,” he said. “I was much less willing to try new things.” His relationship with perfectionism has shifted too. “I’ve come to define success as feeling proud of what I’ve done, even when the outcome isn’t what I planned.”
What’s Next
After graduation, Sam plans to take a gap semester before attending community college for theatre. In the meantime, he wants to travel, get involved in local productions, and work as a barista — a role he genuinely loves. Long term, he hopes to use theatre to tell important stories and contribute to equity through civil action and education. “I hope to inspire others to be a storyteller in their own way,” he said.
Advice for Freshmen
For students just starting out, Sam’s advice is characteristically Sam: “Explore all of your options and don’t close off anything indefinitely. Push yourself past what you think you’re capable of. Give yourself grace. Don’t lose sight of your inner child. And — to be cringe is to be free.” If he could go back and tell his younger self one thing, it would simply be: “You’re doing great.”
Congratulations, Sam. From the stage to the runway to the coffee counter, you showed up fully — and then some. We can’t wait to see what stories you tell next.