First Class Feature: Max Moreno

Editor's Note: This is the first edition of our First Class Feature. We hope to reach out consistently to provide a First Class Feature for each edition, starting with this one. First Classmen nominated their BR, and The Cadet Editors placed the nominated names into a random selector. This random selection was witnessed and to my delight, my roommate, Max Moreno, was chosen. I encourage you to listen to his story and nominate a favorite BR for next edition. Stay tuned. Why you came to VMI &emsp;&emsp;It was 2015, and I was 15 years old. The sudden and unexpected loss of my father left a void in my heart. Without a support structure, I suffered. I engaged in self-medication in an attempt to fill this void. I followed a trend of depression and self-destructive behavior until I was 17 years old. At this point, I was impossible to live with, and my widowed mother gave me an ultimatum: I couldn't live at home any longer. I would either attend military school or an outdoor wilderness therapy camp. I, like many young men, lacked a male role model. I knew, deep down, what I lacked so desperately – structure, routine, discipline, and a chance to "reset." I finished my high school career at an all-boys military boarding school, Hargrave Military Academy. There, I met three men who shaped who I am today. One of those men was William G. Leftwich III or, as I knew him, Major Leftwich. Major Leftwich was my English teacher and an alumnus of the class of 81'. When it came time for me to apply to colleges, he told me about VMI. The good and the bad, but I was still intrigued. I applied, and with Major Leftwich's recommendation, I got into VMI. &emsp;&emsp;This was in the spring of 2018, and I matriculated with the class of 22' in the fall of 2018. For a multitude of reasons, I would outprocess on Sunday morning before the crucible. But I spent the next two years regretful and feeling as though I had unfinished business. &emsp;&emsp;During that time, I moved back to my hometown and worked in an Emergency Department. It was my second job ever, and for a 19-year-old, it was an eye-opening experience. I had a front-row seat to human suffering and people who had the deck stacked against them. This experience made me realize the opportunity I had given up and only fueled my desire to return to VMI and accomplish what I originally had intended. I put in my packet for re-admission and was accepted. The day I received that letter was simultaneously exciting and daunting. General Experience &emsp;&emsp;Two factors have painted my experience at VMI. The first of these is being older than my peers. I was a 21-year-old Rat and had a Rat roommate who was 17 at the beginning of the year. The artificial stress that the Ratline presented to me wasn't as challenging, but in turn, I was able to help my Brother Rats around me who did not have the same life experience. &emsp;&emsp;Secondly, I was blessed to have an amazing Dyke, Allen Xu. He took a chance on me, and for that, I am eternally grateful. And being the roommate to the same group of guys for the last four years has taught me more conflict resolution than anything possible could. I owe all of my success here to my Dyke and my Brother Rats. They helped me when I had my worst days here and reminded me that this is not an experience where I am alone. VMI EMS has given me many opportunities to keep some of my EMT skills and exposure to the Fire Service, which I did not have before coming here. As an EMT at VMI, I have had the privilege to assist in the Ratline and help other Cadets when they, too, are having some of their worst days. Intent after VMI &emsp;&emsp;VMI has been challenging. Every year has been a grind—one I have taken one day at a time. However, my Brother Rats are ultimately the reason I am still here and will graduate. My time at VMI has been invaluable in teaching me what I want to do and not in the same regard. My continued work in EMS at VMI has reminded me how much I enjoy helping others, and I want to continue to dedicate my life to that effort. I am currently a member of the Fire Club and pursuing the certifications needed to get a job in the Fire service after graduation. VMI has taught me how to deal with the successes and failures in life. I will not only carry the pride of being a VMI alum but everything this school and the Brother Rats around me has taught me.