In today’s episode of This Hits Different, Shelby Cassesse tells the story of Carlynton senior Wesley Maxwell and his help with a special needs summer camp.
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Carlynton senior Wesley Maxwell won't give a big speech in the locker room. He won't get aggressive with teammates or tell them what to do.
His leadership style shines through his own actions each day.
“Whenever I was younger I looked up to a lot of my older friends and my parents,” Maxwell says. “They always led by example, so that’s kind of how I always followed behind them.”
It takes time to gain respect through that leadership style, something Wes has done on both the football and track & field teams.
“In track, I’ve seen a lot of the freshmen and younger guys come to me for advice on throwing,” he says. “It’s pretty cool that they come to me. I just like the idea of leading by example so that the people younger than me will follow in that, hopefully, when they get older and help out the program.”
Assistant athletic director and track and field coach Annemarie Bunch has seen that growth first hand. And she's not the only one.
“He’s always trying to improve himself, but he’s doing it also for the betterment of his team and his teammates,” Bunch says. “He’s always willing to step into a role, even if it means he has to make some sort of personal sacrifice. He’s willing to do it for his team.”
That's how she knew he'd be a perfect fit for Camp AIM, a summer program for kids with special needs. Annemarie is on the camp's administrative staff.
“I knew some of the values that his family had instilled in him, and getting to work with his oder sister, I just knew that they had that personality, that compassion, empathy, the patience and the character to step into that kind of role,” she says.
It's not for every kid. Counselors are asked to dedicate five weeks of their summer to the job.
Volunteering is a mainstay in the Maxwell family. So for Wesley, it was an easy choice.
“My dad took me to a lot of volunteer work when I was younger. My mom, she’s a very caring person, as well,” he says. “Both of them together, that’s the kind of mindset that I have now, is just to help other people out.”
For this quiet leader, it all started at home.
A place to foster the qualities that eventually leave a mark on a community.
“Even the smallest thing can make a big impact on people,” Maxwell says. “You never really know where people are at in life. So anything can really help. Just don’t be afraid to help out.”