Castle Family

Parent: Cheryl Castle

Cadet: Max Castle. Max is a sophomore who plays baseball, basketball and football.

Hometown: Osage Beach, MO

Self-esteem boost

Since her son Max enrolled at MMA as a freshman, his mom Cheryl has noticed positive changes in him throughout the two years he has attended the Academy. The biggest change she has seen in him is his increased confidence and heightened self-esteem, which she attributes to the school’s structure and the exposure to various personalities and cultures it gives cadets. “I wish that more kids had the opportunity to experience [MMA]. I think it would make a world of difference,” Cheryl says.

Far cry from public school

When she attended parent-teacher conferences, Cheryl was surprised to see how much the teachers cared about the cadets and were clearly invested in them while also enjoying their jobs, which she never observed in teachers Max had in the public school system. The youngest of three children, Max is the first to break away from public schools. “I would never not send a child to private school again,” Cheryl says. “Never.”

Brotherhood bonds

Cheryl says MMA has given Max unparalleled care, guidance, respect and, above all, a brotherhood. That doesn’t mean all the boys get along, she adds, but they have an obvious bond. “It’s wonderful to see how the boys care and look out for each other,” Cheryl says. “They’ve all been removed from everyone and everything that they’ve ever known and put into this situation, and it has created a bond that I hope will last for years. I’m sure that it does for many.”