Maximus “Max” Camaj ’23 hails from Hopewell Junction, NY and has been a joyful presence on campus since he joined Trinity-Pawling as an 8th grader five years ago. His outgoing and friendly personality is known and appreciated by all.
For his Senior Independent Project (SIP), Camaj has been developing a leadership program to help unite our community — specifically, by creating an opportunity for Upper School students to mentor Middle School students.
I recently asked Camaj to share the details of his newly-formed Big Brotherhood Club for this issue of The Quad:
How did the idea for the Big Brotherhood program come about?
Since joining the School as an 8th grader, I‘ve always stayed connected with the Middle School students, as a friend and a mentor, and I realized that there aren’t too many other Upper Schoolers who do this. If we had a bunch of guys doing this, it would really help the School shine and help the Middle School boys out. Having been on both sides (Middle School and Upper School), I know what it’s like.
Was there anyone who inspired you to create this program?
The person at Trinity-Pawling that has always inspired me the most is Mrs. Barker — she has so much compassion and respect and she really helped me find myself. There were also some Upper School students who inspired me — Danny Csaszar ’20 and Lucas Hughes ’20 were always good to me and helped me grow — they were like big brothers to me and are still my friends. Mr. Hoffman was a tremendous help with this SIP and I am hoping he will continue to oversee the Big Brotherhood program after I graduate.
Are other students joining the Big Brotherhood yet?
The other students are excited about the club and how it will benefit the School. Emmett Croddick ’24, Roni Eloranta ’25, and Ryan Impellizeri ’25 are a few of the students that will be helping to plan events and will, collectively, keep the club going. They all know the School well, have a sense of purpose, have good character, and will be good leaders. Our first meeting was on April 6, and I’m hoping we will have a few more before the school year ends. The club will be presented at the Club Fair in September so that new juniors and seniors can also join.
What activities are planned for mentoring Middle School students?
Lunches with the Middle School students will be a natural way for them to connect, and informal club meetings will create opportunities for teaching them skills like kindness, effort, respect, and humility.
What’s next for Max?
Go to college and get the degrees I need to come back as a history teacher at Trinity-Pawling. When I come back, I hope I will see that the Big Brotherhood program has kept Middle Schoolers engaged and valuing their time at the School.
Favorite Trinity-Pawling tradition?
Candlelight, I love it!
One thing you hope will never change at the School?
The amount of respect we have for each other … the brotherhood … it really gives you the ability to be the best you’ve ever been.
Camaj’s mentor, Todd Hoffman adds, “Max’s Big Brotherhood Program adopts the ethos of interactive, age-inclusive learning in a way that helps build new and organic friendships within the School’s brotherhood and helps boys of different friend and peer groups get to know one another in non-academic and non-athletic endeavors. Max has tapped into something that fully accentuates the student-centered educational approach here, which provides leadership and entrepreneurial ideas such as this to expand our already robust efforts in these areas. Kudos to Max for adding his zest for all things Trinity-Pawling!”
by Judy Redder