Maxwell McKendry '18 Recruiting Profile

I am swimming for the Irvine Novaquatics at Soka University under head coach Adam Crossen. I am close to Junior Nationals and am trying my best to achieve them. I am an IMer and Breaststroker with particular emphasis upon the 400 IM. I also formerly swam distance freestyle in my Freshman year of high school. Mental toughness is a big part of my swimming mindset. I rarely miss practices and show up to every session with an attitude to make the present day better than the last. This year, I missed one day due to a mountain biking accident in which I smashed my face and broke a couple teeth. However, despite that I came to practice after a day of operations and learned an important lesson of humility. I also had the privilege of being my High School's Varsity swim team captain and enjoyed working with kids on all swimming levels. This was our high school's first year in Division 1 in the CIF Southern Section and I worked tirelessly with not only my co-captain but also the other team captains of the Junior Varsity and Open teams to create a roster that led our school to only lose one dual meet. In swim meets, I am usually the one cheering on the "slower" kids as I believe that that is where meets are won. This is because if the team's rear is brought up, it would pressure the faster swimmers to be even faster for the sake of competition. Hence, a faster team is created.

Academically, I ended my Junior year with a 4.3 GPA and currently hold a 1420 SAT and 32 ACT. I am planning to retake the SAT and ACT again in the beginning of my Senior year to try to achieve the highest scores I can possibly achieve.

After my Junior Year, I was honored with the opportunity to attend California Boy's State, a program where two juniors from California high schools are selected via interviews by the sponsoring American Legion. At Boy's State, I established a prominent Law Firm in which I employed 22 people and never lost a case under my guidance and the collaborative efforts of my Boy's State Lawyers. I also ran for the office of Assemblyman but unfortunately lost by 2 votes.  Also, I was honored to be offered admission into West Point's Summer Leader's Experience. The program was very enlightening and also very reassuring. My commitment to service was firmly re-established at the West Point camp. I was also very privileged to meet other people similar in aspirations to me at the Summer's Leader's Experience.

My collegiate goals is to attend a military academy (particularly West Point or the Naval Academy) or enroll in a civilian college via an ROTC program. My aspiration is to make a difference in people's lives and inspire them to accomplish something higher than themselves and I believe service to this great nation is the best way to do so.  This is because as an officer, I would have an opportunity to inspire many young men to fight for and believe in something that is higher in themselves. I believe that better soldiers are created this way. Also, I have aspired to become part of the esteemed American military since I was a kid. I lived in Taiwan from 2007-2010 and the sight of American warships and equipment furthermore solidified my drive to become part of the military. As a first generation American, I feel the obligation to give back to the country that gave so much to my Taiwanese mother and New Zealander father. With regards to giving back, if admitted to West Point, I plan to branch Infantry. If offered admission to the Naval Academy, I plan to branch in the Marine Corps.