Max (far left) along with other graduating seniors at camp last year. Congratulations to all of our grads in the district!!!!
It’s graduation season, and for many 4-H agents, this is a bittersweet time. On the one hand we are seeing our senior 4-H’ers accomplish big goals and reach out to take hold of their dreams for the future. On the other hand, it can feel like we’re losing them – or at least in their current roles – the best always seem to boomerang back.
One such 4-H’er that I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and who will be missed terribly this summer is Max Scott. He has developed all 4 H’s (head, heart, hands, and health), and even the sometimes joked about “5th H”…hustle. But by far, Max will be known for putting his heart into everything he does.
Max is a student in Calhoun County. He volunteers with 4-H every summer as a Camp Counselor at Camp Timpoochee, a five day residential camp in Niceville, FL. When I asked Max to share is 4-H story, this is what he said:
“4-H has helped to teach and reinforce many positive qualities in my life such as honesty, hard work, and patience.
I first got involved with 4-H by winning the countywide 4-H Tropicana speech competition in fifth grade. One of the rewards for winning was a free trip to 4-H Camp Timpoochee. I soon learned that one of my best friends was planning on going to camp also, so I went, and there began my 4-H journey.
After several years of attending as a camper, I was finally able to go as a counselor.
The part I enjoy most about being a camp counselor is being given the honor of playing a positive role in a younger kid’s life.”
Max has indeed done just that. He quickly became the most requested cabin counselor among my young 4-H boys, and just this week an excited camper came in my office to sign up for camp. He shared with me that last year was his favorite year of camp yet. I found that interesting since this camper has been for a number of years and it rained all day every day last summer, so I asked him why that was. His reply? “Because Max was my counselor. He’s the best.” I couldn’t help but grin.
As I sat through a rather lengthy graduation ceremony last night for no other reason than to support this young man, I was reminded of just how much he has grown since I first met him as a cautious, shy, 11 year old boy. Since then, he has been elected to several offices in school organizations, serves on the executive board of the local republican party, has paged at the capital in Tallahassee, earned the honor of being his class valedictorian, and was voted most likely to succeed by both his peers and faculty at his High School.
With his sights now set on law school and perhaps political aspirations, I know that Max is in for a bright and glorious future. I’m so proud of him and all that he has accomplished. Surely he will be missed this summer, but I know I will not be surprised to find another young Max in the crowd at camp this year, eager to find his footing and become just as great a counselor as Max was.
To leave you with a few words from the man of the hour, “If I could offer just one piece of advice to other students who are thinking about volunteering with 4-H it would be to just go for it. You don’t have to start out volunteering for a 5 day camp, you can start small by volunteering at a one day camp and if you like it then move on to the longer camps.”
As you can see, Max is always thinking of others and how they can leave a positive influence on the lives of others.
For more information on how you, like Max, can make a positive difference in the lives of youth in our community, contact your local UF IFAS Extension Office.
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