Whiz Kid: Max Derrick Overcomes Teasing Through Lacrosse Teammates

Name: Max Derrick

Grade: Rising 6th Grade

School: Graduated from Heards Ferry Elementary. Starts Ridgeview Middle School in the fall.

Accomplishment: Max won the Inaugural Atlanta Youth Lacrosse Spirit Essay Contest for his essay titled, “What My Teammates Have Taught Me.” The essay described how Max’s teammates show him the respect he hasn’t always gotten from peers due to his unique voice.

Key to Awesomeness:

Max Derrick may have a unique voice and a weak upper body due to Russell Silver Syndrome, but his voice came out strong in his contest-winning essay. The goal of the Spirit Essay Contest was to show how the player lives his life on and off the lacrosse field in the spirit of sportsmanship, competiveness and honoring the game.

“I have been teased many times in my life about the sound of my voice. It really hurts when I am teased about my voice because it is something that I can’t change,” Max wrote in his essay. “I have been playing lacrosse for three years now and I have been never been teased by my teammates or anyone else in lacrosse about my voice. Why is that, you wonder? Respect. Respect is not fear or awe, it is equality. Respect means that my teammates and opponents honor my desire to compete and to be like them.”

Max’s essay went on to describe how he has followed his teammates’ example in his own actions saying, “Teammates learn to support each other and I try to practice supporting people I meet off the field… For instance, in my class there is a “Special Needs” kid and I try to carry the kindness and respect to better understand her life. I also try to be nicer and more respectful to my sister. It is not easy because there are times when Helen really bugs me - even though she is shhh, my best friend.”

Max had never entered an essay competition like that before, but said, ”It sounded fun and I wanted to express my opinion on teamwork. I like to write. I write stories sometimes in my spare time and I am going to a writer’s camp this summer.”

Max is also in Sandy Springs Boy Scout Troop 463 and plans to run cross country at Ridgeview this fall. He loves to read and is learning to play the piano. Max, a year-round lacrosse goalie, will also play next year with the newly formed Riverwood Junior Lacrosse Club.