Why I Mentor
I was shaped by men who showed me what it means to be a servant leader, and I am committed to paying that forward.
Over time, I have learned that identity does not form on its own. It is shaped through guidance, challenge, and the choices we make when things get difficult. Young men need direction, standards, and someone willing to step in.
Young men matter to me. Watching them grow, step up, and build their lives has been one of the true privileges of my life. If I have had any impact, I hope it helps them become the men they are meant to be.
My role is not to control outcomes, but to walk alongside them as they find their footing, develop self awareness, and grow into steady, responsible men who become more than they believed possible.
I want them to understand that vulnerability is strength. Anger must be mastered, not buried or unleashed. Leadership begins with understanding oneself., and that leadership begins with understanding oneself. They should not feel pressure to pretend they are fine when they are not. They should know they do not have to carry the weight of their world alone.
That is why Daragh Fleming’s poem strikes me so deeply. It gives voice to the kind of men I hope to walk alongside as they grow, just as others once walked alongside and guided me.
-Dan Reagan ‘82
Daragh Fleming -Is a writer and poet from Cork, Ireland, known for his clear, honest work on emotion, growth, and mental health.
If I Ever Have Boys, They'll Be Dangerous Men
They'll smile at dogs and children and be a tonic to friends.
They'll send flowers to their mother just because.
They'll be a shoulder for many when the world is too much.
My boys will know that vulnerability is strength.
They won't bottle anger. They’ll learn how to express.
They won't let pride be the reason they hide, wearing masks while they're hurting inside.
My boys will be dangerous man.
They won’t stay silent even when it's uncomfortable for them.
They’ll learn that their actions are more effective than words.
They'll use their voices to amplify the unheard.
They’ll know that loves is not something to perform.
They’ll see beauty in all of its forms.
My boys won't grow learning to emotionally hide.
They'll reshape masculinity into something they like, make it softer to touch.
They’ll know that who they are is more than enough.
They’ll know that being a man doesn't mean carrying the burden alone.
They'll learned an emotional man is a man fully grown.
They won't settle everything with violent swings.
They’ll live in truth even when that truth stings.
So yeah, if I ever have boys, they’ll be dangerous men.
But the danger they'll be, won't be the one society meant.