In life, one of the inevitable guarantees is that challenges will arise. What shapes a person, however, is how they respond to these challenges. That idea applies to Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS) Alumni Maximo Yejo, who after a long journey of different careers and interests, joined the military.
Yejo first attended Central Campus in 2002, then graduated from PPCHS in 2009. During his time at PPCHS, English and art sparked his creativity and curiosity.
His years at Charter gave him an early sense of accountability. He credits the school for teaching him discipline and responsibility, lessons that later proved to fit into military life.
“The structure of Charter [was to be] on time, [stay] organized, [and respect] authority; [in a way] it was a lot like the military,” states Yejo.
After graduating, Yejo attended Broward College for an Associate of Arts in Computer Science, then earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Art History at FIU. He once aimed for filmmaking and photography, but a managerial role at Publix shifted his path.
He wanted to do work that felt meaningful, not for money or fame, but to make a difference and represent something major. “I wanted to do something that mattered, to serve, protect, and represent something bigger than myself,” Yejo says.
This led to Yejo joining the U.S. Army. He enlisted as a food-inspection specialty. As a food inspector, he ensures the safety and quality of all food and water consumed by service members. This includes inspecting facilities, products, and sanitary practices of the US Army. Yejo’s duties included finishing his basic training in 2021.
Yejo remembered it as the most physically demanding experience of his life. However, he also recognized that challenges such as training helped him grow.
“It’s the tough days that build you. In training, you find out what you’re really capable of and [where to] push myself even further,” Yejo mentions.
His assignments have included South Korea and Arizona, with an upcoming move to Guam. He has advanced to Sergeant and is working toward Staff Sergeant. Along the way, he has kept track of growth through his outlook. Yejo expresses, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, what matters is your mindset and your effort. That’s what people respect.”
As of today, Yejo lives in Arizona with his husband and their miniature schnoodle, Rollo. The town is roughly forty minutes away from the base and he works with the nearby Marine installation.
They drive out for mountain hikes, catch movies, and set aside evening “virtual dates” when schedules get demanding. He says they make it work with check-ins, good-morning and good-night texts, and shared TV shows after long days.
Basic training turned him from what he once called himself, a “scared cat,” into someone who embraces the outdoors. Sleeping under the stars without a tent taught him to face fear, breathe fresh air, and let nature reset his mind.
Rollo is the center of their home life. The miniature schnoodle has a carrier for office trips, splits time between homes, and gets doted on like a baby. To Yejo and his husband, Rollo is much more than a dog, he is their son. They hope to adopt children in the future, but for now, Yejo is happy with his adorable schnoodle.
As much as family, mentorship has been a crucial part of Yejo’s service. He speaks highly of leaders who guided him through personal and professional hurdles, and now mentors junior soldiers through their own challenges.
To students and recent graduates, Yejo’s message is to persevere through challenges, even when motivation runs low; “You’re not always going to feel motivated, but if you keep showing up, you’ll get stronger. That’s what makes the difference.”
