“That’s great! What do you mean you want to stop?” Matt Streckfus leaned over, watching as the student hesitated, putting his pencil down. “Add some more color, make it pop! You got this.”
The student sighed and shook his head. “It looks bad.”
“No way,” Matt said, “You’re an amazing artist. Don’t let one little thing stop you.”
Considering Matt’s words, the student looked up and slowly picked up his pencil.
Moments like this happen constantly with Matt Streckfus. Whether he’s encouraging a student to keep going, guiding a peer tutor, or noticing an act of kindness between classmates, he calls it out. This is who Matt is, a protector, a mentor, a creator, and a coach.
Matt Streckfus’s motivation started in middle school when he was bullied, a turning point that shaped him. “I was bullied pretty significantly at Davidson,” he said. In eighth grade, his mother decided to transfer him to a private Catholic school, hoping for a fresh start. Though it was a difficult transition, this change created a transformation in Matt. “That moment changed me. I began to see the world differently with more empathy, more understanding, and more compassion.”
This became the foundation for everything Matt Streckfus did. He became watchful, determined to notice what went unnoticed. Sometimes, that meant stepping into a kid’s world to teach them how to feel confident, while other times, it meant refusing to put a special-needs student in a program that would set them up to fail.
One of Matt’s many roles revolves around working with children with special needs. For six years, he has worked with a student diagnosed with PANDAS, a neurological disorder that causes inflammation in the brain and affects impulsive control. He’s also worked as a play coach at an autism clinic. “I was facilitating verbal and eye contact by playing with the kids with autism to try and see what I could get out of each child,” he said.
This work was never just another job for him. When a student he worked with was placed into a program he believed would do more harm than good, Matt Streckfus risked his job by saying, “I’m not going to take the job if it means watching him fail.” That moment showed that he is willing to protect a kid’s interest, even at his own expense.
Matt Streckfus brings the same sense of guardianship to the basketball court. He began coaching unexpectedly. A kid struggled to make friends so Matt told him, “I’ll coach the basketball team if you play.” What began as a way to help one student get out of their comfort zone led him to coach the freshman boys’ basketball team at SRHS this year. He found himself not only teaching kids how to play basketball but also showing them how to work as a team and believe in themselves.
Matt Streckfus is a guardian of others in his life, giving them confidence and purpose. One of the many students he has guided is Samantha Carter, a senior peer tutor in the special needs class at SRHS, who sees Matt as a role model, not just for the kids but for herself as well. “Matt always encourages people,” Samantha said. “He once told me, you’re such an energetic, positive person who will go far. Believe in yourself, you can do anything.” His encouragement, whether to his players, his students, or his peers, shows his desire to constantly uplift others around him.
The guardian angel idea took on an even more personal meaning when Matt’s French bulldog, Brody, passed away unexpectedly. “When I first got him, he was this tiny, scared dog, and we kind of built each other up,” he said. “He was my motivation, and I wanted to immortalize him in some way.” The words, “When you lose a loved one, you gain a guardian angel” connected with Matt so deeply that he decided to rename his streetwear brand in Brody’s honor. What began as MJS clothing, a passion project for affordable, high-quality streetwear, became Guardian Angel. The logo, the designs, and even the idea behind the brand reflect Matt’s beliefs in spreading protection and confidence. Just as he’s made it his mission to make sure everyone is included inside and outside the class, he wants high-quality fashion to be accessible and inclusive too.
“I grew up loving streetwear, but brands like Supreme and Off-White were way out of reach for most kids…I wanted to change that,” said Matt Streckfus.
Matt Streckfus’ journey from being bullied to discovering a passion for mentoring, helping special needs kids, coaching basketball, and launching a clothing line, all unfolded organically. But at the heart of all of these experiences is a common thread: the guardian angel mindset that has quietly influenced every aspect of his life.
He’s guided many students, especially when talking about high school. Matt Streckfus shared, “You guys are young, you’re understanding life…that’s not a problem, right? High school can be crazy. But at the end of the day, like you’re a good person, you have good friends around you and a good support system, you will get far in life.” His goal isn’t to tell others how to act but rather to offer perspective, trying to help students grow into the best versions of themselves.
Matt’s future is not about reaching for a higher position. It’s about expanding how many people he can reach. Right now, he’s focused on mentoring a special needs student for as long as he can while also expanding Guardian Angel, not just as a brand but as a symbol of confidence. At the same time, he’s dedicated to growing both as a basketball coach and as a leader for his team.
But at the core, nothing changes. Matt Streckfus remains the mentor to his students, the coach scanning the court, and the friend always there. If there is any chance to pull someone in, instill confidence in them, and help them, he’ll do it.
Matt credits much of his perspective to the challenges he faced growing up. “I could have let bullying make me bitter, but instead, it gave me empathy. I see the bigger picture now. I hold kids accountable for being kind and treating people with respect because I know how much it matters.” His parents, who modeled hard work and compassion, also shaped him. “My mom was a school teacher and an entrepreneur; my dad, an SRHS alumni, worked tirelessly owning his own business as a plumber since 1982.” They gave Matt a strong support system, even though he was scared to tell them about the bullying at first.
“It’s been such an organic journey, and I just want to keep giving back and helping kids find confidence in themselves,” said Matt “That’s what it’s all about.”
So if you happen to see him, sitting in the commons, working out at the gym, wearing Guardian Angel, or in his classroom, know that behind that smile is someone always watching out for others.
