He was born February15 in Princeton NJ. When he was three he moved to Chicago, and then moved back to Montclair NJ when he was twelve. Back in Chicago he had to say good bye to all of his friends, as he faced a new challenge of going to New Jersey not knowing anyone. Due to his character he choked back his fears and dove head first into a foreign environment. Once he discovered many new friends and how much fun he was having, nothing was stopping him. He quotes, “it was hard getting people to like you…a difficult move but a good transition.” For Matt this move wasn’t exactly easy, and it became one of his greatest accomplishments.
As Matt grew up over the years, his mother quoted, “a new age, a new beginning.” She went on to say that he was disciplined to know what he had to do and when he had to do it. Mrs. Chernick also responded, “Everything was a correct change for him and nothing held him back, progressed well.”
Perhaps this trend will continue on into the future, after college towards a career. However, Matt does not know what exactly it is that he wants to do; as long as it is adventurous and thrilling. “…like Bear Grylls.” He states. Matt is the kind of guy that will go out into the real world and just stumble upon a job that is everything he ever wanted, maybe even his own TV show. He’s not the kind of guy who would end up behind a desk crunching numbers 9-5 everyday; but definitely something outside or something that will get his adrenaline pumping.
The only thing he did mention that he wanted to do after college is to go to Amsterdam. He does not know how he may get there or when he might get there, just as long as he gets there.
He is influenced by his parents and his lacrosse coach. Always pushing him to do better and support him in whatever situation he might get into. “He’s a hard worker, blue collar type of person. He will never quit no matter how bad the odds stack up against him.” Mike Landy comments. He is one of Matt’s good friends that has been there on and off the field with him.
Mike recalled a fond memory with Matt, “It was after the championship game which we lost a heartbreaker to our rivals and everyone was down about it especially the seniors. He was hands down the hardest worker on the team. He came up to me as I was crying and put his arm around me and said it was an honor playing with me and he wouldn’t trade the time he had with the team for anything. He wasn’t an all-star on the team, but hearing it from someone who I respected, really made me step back and look at the last few years, playing with him was the actual honor.”
Matt is a big fan of sports, it does not matter he’ll do it and have a blast or watch it and have just as much fun. He especially likes lacrosse and football, the two sports he played in high school. Any chance for him to scamper around and get dirty, he will take it. Besides sports his attention is also captured by females. Now only if he could combine the two, he would be a happy man.
In his free time he likes to play sports, hang out with friends, and party. A place where he can just be himself, relax and have a good time.
When Mrs. Chernick was asked what she is most proud of about her son, she paused for a second and then quickly, almost instinctively responded with, “Matt is Matt.” Exemplifying that Matt is truly unique, because of his character, and how other people portrait him. Whether it is on the field where he is busting his ass for the team, or in the class room where he is making friends and getting all of his work done. When he is faced with a challenge, whatever it may be, he takes it face on and he is not going to relinquish, or let anyone else around him fail. Just like when he is out playing lacrosse with his good friend Mike, always encouraging him and motivating him to do better, but not just him, the whole team as well. She also mentioned his perseverance, courage along with his intelligence.
Off the bat, Mrs. Chernick could only think of one weakness for Matt. It is that if he is not fully interested in something, then he will lose focus and get distracted, in a good way, with something else. However if it is something that he does not like and it is of importance then that is where it becomes a problem. Other than that situation why should he waste his time with something he does not enjoy?
Matt is very talkative, and can start up a conversation with anyone. You can’t be around him for too long before he starts talking to you, about random topics. Within the first 5 minutes of English class this year he was already talking to me about Jersey, and I never met him before
that.All in all matt is a very humorous, hard working, intelligent individual who faces challenges head on, and does not give up on anything that he is committed to. Very friendly to everyone he meets and can relax and hang out with friends, while working hard through school, and enjoy any game of sports in the afternoon. His mother can only describe him in one word, exuberant.
--by Tom Sharko
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