By Kimetha Hill
Staff Writer
Devante Kinder and Max Pierre are students at Mission Bay High School. Seniors, fellow classmates, and teammates, they help each other, support each other and have a relationship common among youth during this time in their lives. But they are not your average college-bound kids. Their connection goes deeper than the football field, but life experiences have shaped them individually as well as their friendship.
“I try to stay away from negative influences,” says Max. Devante echoes his sentiments. “You have to look at your surrounding examples. We encourage each other. We keep each other levelheaded,” Devante adds.
The Mission Bay Buccaneers completed an impressive season, finishing 12 – 2. You can call them the “comeback kids,” and Devante adds, “We like to use the phrase ‘from 1 – 9 to 9 – 1’
Devante played football for Valencia Park little league, and says that he hated football at first, but under the guidance and advice of his older brother, he kept with it and developed a love for it. For Max, football was a positive alternative and a path to a better life. Through a commonality in experiences, football brought them together.
Family is of great importance to Devante and Max, and both come from fairly large families complete with brothers and sisters. Coming from Haiti, Max conveys a special bond he shares with immediate family, and credits his strong upbringing to the structure in the home. Devante also shares similar experiences. Despite the circumstances that may have surrounded them in their neighborhoods and communities, Max and Devante continued to shoot for the stars.
Both young men travel a significant distance to attend Mission Bay High School, but that doesn’t matter. They say, what matters is getting a good education, and striving towards success in their futures.
“Without it [education], there’s not much you can do,” says Max.
“I want to leave this earth knowing I was capable of making the world a better place,” added Devante. “So if you don’t want to be taken advantage of, getting a good education is important.”
Both Devante and Max have witnessed firsthand the effects of abandoning the opportunity of good education in their communities and neighborhoods. So both have vowed to aspire to make good, and leave a positive imprint in their communities.
Those positive vibes extend into their classrooms.
Max and Devante, who play corner/safety and running back/strong safety positions respectively, understand how education extends from the classroom to the football field. The positions require a high degree of intellect and strategy. And don’t be fooled, these young men most certainly understand humility, and are highly respected among their peers.
“We’ve seen great athletes become very cocky,” says Devante. That cockiness, he adds, has led to many a downfall. Max adds, “Our concept of the world is just different. We look at the big picture, and try not to focus on one aspect.” So just as they are students of the game on the football field, so are they students on campus amongst their peers.
With graduation on the horizon, both have aspirations of college. And Devante has received a full-ride to Northwestern University, shared Coach LC Douglas. “After high school I want to major in business economics to make sure people are getting what they deserve,” says Devante. Also leaning towards social justice, Max shares his desire to pursue a profession where he is able to help his community.
Football is important for both Devante and Max, but it is certainly not the end all, be all, as Max adds that, “…life is about being levelheaded. Nothing lasts forever. There’s a life after football, so you have to put yourself aside and think of others.” Devante shares the feelings of his contemporary stating that it is important to have something to fall back on after football, being that the average career of an NFL player is 3 ½ years. “What you do with your time is important,” he says.
Still, as high school seniors, life is wide open for the taking for these two. But their friendship promises to keep them grounded and focused on what lies ahead.
“There is no such thing as impossible. Don’t look at other situations, but be a trailblazer,” advises Devante to his peers. “Use your time wisely and be responsible. We only have but so much time and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed,” adds Max.
With a strong foundation and an equally strong support system, Devante and Max will most certainly achieve whatever they set out to accomplish.
