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Spotlight On: Max Tong, CCES Class of 2023

Kim Gendron, Social Media Coordinator

Christ Church Episcopal School experiences have prepared graduating seniors for whatever comes next and to make a positive difference in the world. Each week, we will put the spotlight on a graduating senior from the Class of 2023. We hope you enjoy getting to know these amazing CCES students!
 
For individuals who are high-achievers, it can be hard to relax and simply enjoy the process, but Max Tong ’23 is an exception.
 
The list of Max’s accomplishments and honors is long and diverse – from running Cross Country to playing the saxophone for the Carolina Youth Symphony since 7th grade; co-founding the chess club to co-authoring a research article; demonstrating a steady commitment to service while finding time to build an adaptive gaming controller for a friend – you get the idea.
 
However, for Max, the process of learning is just as important as the final outcome. He believes deeply in the power of learning from mistakes and always finding joy in learning. With this mindset, he is able to balance his incredible work ethic with not worrying about things out of his control.
 
His first attempt at the adaptive gaming controller didn’t go too well. This may have deterred others, but not Max. He learned from his mistakes and went on to create an artificial 3-D printed bionic hand and a self-playing chess robot – both devices that help the disabled community, something that was a priority for him from start to finish.
 
Max plans to major in either electrical engineering or computer engineering in college, so schools with high quality engineering programs were the top of his list during his search process. Max also wanted something in a bigger city to allow for good internships and job opportunities. He applied to a number of schools that fit the bill – MIT, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Georgia Tech, and Michigan – but withdrew from all as soon as he was accepted to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Located in a suburb of Chicago, Northwestern seemed like the perfect fit – easy access to the city, but not too crowded. Max plans to double major in Economics as well.
 
Max has been at CCES since his freshman year, and while he has always been drawn to science as a subject, he credits his high school experience with giving him the opportunity to grow in appreciation and understanding. He elected to take three years of chemistry courses, in large part because of the labs. Max says, “Labs are like solving a puzzles – for me, it’s fun and very stimulating. I don’t like having blueprints and prefer to build a project from scratch. Science gives me the opportunity to be creative – to learn through trial and error.”
 
Overall, Max describes his four years at CCES as “great,” in large part thanks to the “awesome community” he was able to build during that first year. Max has been a member of the Boys Cross Country team for all four years and was named captain for his senior season. Through this team he met some of his closest friends and says his fondest memories are of the long runs during the annual team retreat in North Carolina.
 
In addition to cross country, Max is involved in a number of clubs at CCES, including the Chess Club and the Coding and Engineering Club, serving as a founder for both. Max became interested in chess after watching the Queen’s Gambit on Netflix towards the end of his sophomore year. With two friends and faculty advisor, Mr. Chris Lipp, Max helped found the Chess Club to “create a space for people who loved to play chess.” He shares that a lot of hard work went into starting the club – spending much of his free time planning activities, organizing meetings, scheduling guest speakers, etc. – but considers it all “worth it” because the club was able to “inspire and teach many different people.” The club was able to send a team, Max included, to the South Carolina Scholastic tournament over spring break, where the team placed 3rd.
 
Lindsey Waters, Associate Director of College Counseling, describes Max as “mature, optimistic, and kind.” She says, “Max is confident enough to ask for clarification or advice, but also to respectfully disagree and form his own opinion. He is diligent and works hard towards his goals, no matter if they are athletic or academic.”
 
Perhaps most importantly, is Max’s ability to “enjoy the process and not worry about the outcome.” When combined with his ambition and drive, anything Max sets his sights on is more than possible.     
 
Just for fun!
Favorite class? IB HL Chemistry
Name something this world could use more of. Peace
If you could share an afternoon with anyone, who would it be? Jesus. I’d ask a lot of questions.
Tell us something most people probably don’t know about you. When I lived in China, I had two pet ducks. I miss them.
If you could relive any CCES experience, what would it be? My senior XC season – I had so much fun and made really good friends.
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Christ Church Episcopal School (“CCES”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CCES. CCES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship or other programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs and activities.