Hi, I’m Max Pass.
I’m a senior at Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois.
I am an aspiring astrophysicist and a passionate woodworker, metalworker, crocheter, and percussionist.
I like making things with my hands and enjoy any challenge that involves applying math and critical thinking skills.
My Passions and Pursuits
Music is a huge part of my life. I started playing drums at 2 years old and have since played in symphony orchestras, concert bands, marching bands, and jazz ensembles inside and outside of school. My music journey confirms the adage “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
I have continued my academic journey through AP classes, coding and game-design, summer programs, and of course—music. I am a National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, a Woody Herman Jazz Award winner, and scored a 36 on the ACT.
I work as a teacher’s assistant and tutor for individuals who are currently incarcerated at the Cook County Jail, or who have recently been released and are transitioning back. I also assist my mom at Hinda Helps, an Institute that supports formerly incarcerated individuals to become mentors for those newly released.
Whether I’m working with wood, metal, crochet, or legos, I enjoy piecing together physical objects to create a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Both fun and challenging, it’s another one of my hobbies where the results justify the effort put in.