Vote Max Pleban for Humble Leadership

| Photo courtesy of The King’s College.

The opinions reflected in this OpEd are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, faculty and students of The King's College.

Throughout the 21 odd years I have been alive I have had the opportunity and privilege to meet a wide variety of people. From coal miners, to governors, to artists and theologians, I have learned that people rarely are how you expect them to be. 

When I first met Max Pleban, I thought he would be a prick. Here was someone who had won states in debate, joined the Junior Olympic team for rugby and was now playing soccer in college. But in the three years since I met him, including spending two and a half as his roommate, I can say unequivocally that Max Pleban is, in fact, not a prick. 

Max Pleban is a silent professional dedicated to giving his all to whatever he has committed to. I remember leading up to House elections at the end of sophomore year a freshman asked me, “Why should I vote for Max as president when it seems that Max has not done an adequate job as Helmsman?” 

This question took me by surprise because I saw the amount of energy Max was putting into the House every day. I realized this freshman was asking this because he, and frankly most of us, expect someone in leadership to advertise their success and what they have accomplished. Max had done none of this because he took the role of Helmsman and was running for President to serve the House, not for a title or resume booster. This freshman didn’t realize that Max was simultaneously serving as Helmsman, playing soccer and filling in as House President. He did all of this without complaining or advertising his hard work because he was there to silently serve to the best of his ability. 

Currently, as House President, he has done more to set our house up for future success than anyone has ever expected or asked of him. He has done so in a manner that is not about his success but the House's success. Whenever he has talked about it with others, he never talks about how well he has done; it is about how well the whole House has done. 

You may be asking why you should care what Max’s roommate has to say? Well, I would consider Max more than a roommate or friend. Max has been one of the most dedicated friends I have had at King’s. I have met very few people willing to give so much to a friendship and expect nothing in return. He is one of the most competent and sacrificial persons I know. I have seen firsthand the dedication and countless hours of effort poured into the House of Reagan and The King’s College. From the very beginning, his goal was to improve on everything and leave the college a better place than when he first came in.  

Max sees King’s as an institution that has changed his life for the better in a multitude of ways. I have been involved with his plans to position the House of Reagan for success long after graduating. He knows he will never fully benefit from his policies if he is elected Student Body President, but that is not why he is running. He is running for SBP because he hopes to implement policies that will positively impact King’s students now and in the future. The ability to ensure that students in 10 years are Good, Brave and Ready during their time at King’s is why Max is running for SBP. I know that he sees this role as a way for him to give back to a school that has given so much to him. He wants to be able to silently serve King’s to the best of his ability. 

Nate Palmer is a junior in the House of Reagan. He is currently the President of the Financial Services Club and Alumni Associate for Reagan. Palmer has known Max Pleban since they came in as freshmen, and he considers him one of his closest friends.