By Eva Trieger
POWAY, California- Move over Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning. There is a new NFL star waiting in the wings…..Meet Max Brett. This sixteen year old rising junior at Westview High School is going places. Sure, the Vikings and the Broncos may not know him yet, but if you were to ask Max, it’s only a matter of time. While Max described himself as a “sports fanatic” I would dub him a true Renaissance Man because his interests span the globe and the imagination.
One of Max’s most consuming passions is sports. That includes football, basketball, hockey and every other sport during the on or off season. He is a die-hard fan and makes it his business to know statistics and facts about players of many sports on multiple teams.
An excellent researcher, Max reads the news daily and relies on Yahoo and CNN to give him up to the minute information on important items in the United States, the world and the justice system.
You can imagine my surprise when I learned, that as a child, this current defensive lineman, or nose tackle, as he taught me, could not throw a ball. He had to learn the skill from scratch, much the way someone learns a foreign language, or receives rehabilitation after a trauma. In addition, due to some developmental delays, Max did not speak until age 5, and had to learn the mechanics of speaking through laborious therapy and practice.
Academics have not come easily to Max. However, his mom and dad impressed upon him, that though he may have a disability he is not disabled. His early years in school met with frustration and significant hurdles to success. Nothing perturbed this guy and thanks to his parents’ support and persistence, Max has made massive gains and huge strides towards academic excellence and personal growth. This yearning for mastery and success knows no bounds.
Just over a year ago an unnamed academic case manager cautioned Max’s parents that this student would not succeed in the typical English 10 class, and therefore he should take a remedial course. Max craved the challenge and so, against the advice given, he enrolled in English 10. By the semester’s end he’d earned an A…and not only in his English class, but in History as well. Max is a scholar, by any measure.
When I asked Max about the type of teacher that he prefers, he told me, “They are the ones that come to you and make it helpful, especially to you”. On a very bright note, Max told me that he felt all of his teachers fit this model. Kudos to Westview High! Max appreciates that he may have to work harder than some of his peers, but this knowledge does not intimidate him. One of Max’s maxims is: If someone says you can’t do something, prove him wrong.
Max exudes determination and courage so much so that it is positively infectious. Evidencing this quest for success, this past fall Max began writing a book of quotations. Some are his own gems, and others he gleans from the Internet. He started by recording ideas that were negative and voicing them in the positive. “Some people want you to fail or want to break you. Are you going to allow that?” Some of his favorites include, “Don’t worry about those who talk behind your back, they’re behind you for a reason” and “At any given moment you have the power to say this is not how the story is going to end.” Max told me he carries around “millions in his bag”, and he reviews them whenever he faces a challenging test or project. He reminded me recently that “domination is easy, it’s effort that completes it.”
In addition to collecting inspirational words, Max has several hobbies that are second only to football. He loves to travel and has had the good fortune to visit Cape Town, South Africa, to see relatives; Canada with his big brother; Australia; England; and Mexico. His curiosity about food and cooking led him to try lamb’s tongue and other indigenous delicacies. His excitement for travel is fueled in part by his brother, Jared, who is involved in the Teach for America program and has traveled much of the world. Max dreams of going to Europe, visiting his ancestral homes in Lithuania and the Ukraine. He would love to see the Great Wall of China, climb Mt. Everest with his brother, and is considering a Birthright trip to Israel.
An avid Gordon Ramsay fan, this world renowned chef’s determination resonates with Max. He explained to me that Ramsay experienced a rough childhood in Scotland, and as a youth, played soccer, but “he had a Plan B.” This dovetails nicely with Max’s life philosophy. If the path you’re on doesn’t suit you, forge a new one.
As a “lefty” Max is keenly aware of many facts and historic figures who shared this attribute. He has done extensive research on famous individuals, including, but not limited to Einstein, Hitler, Mussolini, Jack the Ripper, and four of the last ten US Presidents, all who share left handed dominance. Several other creative artists and musicians are also left handed and right brained. Max told me he believes he is in very good company.
When asked to share some of his football highlights, Max told me of “getting sacks, lots of tackles and interceptions.” He had to explain to me, a football ignoramus, that this is unusual for a defensive tackle. He earned the nickname “Rumble” during his freshman year, an appellation he wore proudly. Towards the end of last season he was put on Varsity, quite a coup for a sophomore, and dreams of the challenge of playing other local teams such as Oceanside, Cathedral Catholic and Saints, notoriously good teams. The upcoming season opens August 31st with a home game.
Considering colleges, Max revealed that he is eyeing North Carolina and other D1 schools. He is keeping his sights on the future and hopes to play for the Chargers, but he’d settle for the Raiders. When he is ready for retirement, Max is considering coaching and perhaps even starting a professional league in another country. In the near term, Max is more concerned about how he can convince his parents to let him miss only one game for the High Holy days. As luck would have it, both Rosh Hashanah and Kol Nidre coincide with game days. What’s a Jewish athlete to do?
Spending even one hour with Max Brett is akin to attending a five-star session with the world’s leading motivational speaker. This fellow is so focused on success and outcomes that you can’t help but come away ignited by his drive, positive attitude and good humor. Max knows that anything worthwhile demands true effort, but he is not afraid to put his nose to the grindstone. In his own words, “You don’t have to be the biggest, you don’t have to be the strongest, and you don’t have to be the smartest, but you have to be the hardest worker with the biggest heart.” And that is the very definition of Max Brett.
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Trieger is a freelance writer based in San Diego. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com