When Steve Way, now an actor and advocate, befriended the Muslim kid in fifth grade who was being bullied in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it was the start of a lifelong friendship that would later lead to Way's television acting career and sow the seeds of his passion for social justice.
The moment he and Ramy Youssef became friends, would also one day become a scene in the Hulu hit show Ramy, about a Muslim American 20-something living in New Jersey, and dealing with conflicts between his faith and American culture. In the show, Way plays the title character’s best friend – a role he also plays in real life.
"We really bonded over shared feelings of pain of being an outcast, but we didn't really realize that until we were filming that scene," Way says. "Ramy has always been my biggest supporter and helped me out every step of the way."
Way, who graduated from Montclair State in 2013, is no stranger to being in the public eye. Growing up with muscular dystrophy, he spoke at fundraisers beginning at age 9, and spoke at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences convocation the year he graduated – about resilience and rising to life’s challenges.
In recent years, he has also become an advocate for people with disabilities, using his platform to call for change. He currently leads the Rutherford Civil Rights Commission and is working to change laws that discriminate against marginalized groups, including those with disabilities.
"I have this growing platform, and I feel I would be remiss if I didn't use it to raise awareness of everything that we go through," he says.
“I HAVE THIS GROWING PLATFORM AND I FEEL I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN’T USE IT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF EVERYTHING THAT WE GO THROUGH.”
Prior to the pandemic, when he was not on set or advocating, Way worked as a substitute history teacher by day and as a standup comedian at night. Now that he’s fully vaccinated and the world is opening up a bit, he’s starting to get some gigs again, and Ramy has been renewed for another season. It was also Ramy Youseff who helped launch Way’s comedy career in 2010, when his improv group did a show to raise money for muscular dystrophy.
"Ramy's always seen that talent in me and wanted to bring out the best of me," Way says.
Working on the set of Ramy, Way says, has been one of the best experiences of his life. "It's a family. We're all really rooting for each other. It's a great environment."
Way has added his colleagues to the list of those who help get him through each day, saying his “incredible support system” includes his parents, teachers, friends, doctors, girlfriend and, of course, Ramy. “I wouldn’t be here without them.”
"I take it one day at a time, understanding that tomorrow won't be like today," he says. "It could be better, it could be worse. There's no need to worry about what hasn't happened when I have the power to figure out what I can do right now." •
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laura Griffin is the Editorial Director at Montclair State University.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: Steve works on an advocacy project at home; "I take it one day at a time, understanding that tomorrow won't be like today,"
