Finding My Path and My Place at USM

February 18, 2026

By Maxfield Rhine

Starting over and starting fresh

When I first began at the University of Southern Maine, I had already been on a pretty real roller coaster. I graduated high school in 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic. I had to put off attending my first college choice, the Fashion Institute of Technology, for a year. When I did go, I quickly realized it was not the right fit. I transferred out, regrouped, and eventually chose USM.

By the time I arrived in the fall of 2022, I was a little afraid, definitely apprehensive, but also excited to start something new. I was just beginning to settle into this new phase of life out of high school,and actually exploring who I was and what I cared about. More than anything, I wanted stability. I wanted to build a life in Southern Maine. I found my partner, Kody, who is now my partner of three and a half years. I wanted to pursue my BA. I wanted to belong to something bigger than just myself.

Maxfield Rhine walking on USM Portland campus in a gray suit.

Leadership, service and saying yes

When I started at USM, I was deeply involved in volunteering, sitting on the boards of historical organizations and museums — a passion of mine since I was young. I recognized the skills I was gaining through those leadership roles, and that is why I kept saying yes. Leading organizations, organizing people, facilitating hard conversations and decisions — it all felt right. I learned how to negotiate, listen and work with others. Those roles shaped me.

Do it, even if it feels uncomfortable

Now, as a senior at USM, I am proud of myself for doing things that truly made me uncomfortable – things as simple, and as daunting, as using my professors’ office hours, or going to the Career Hub for the first time. I just walked into the second-floor office suite of the McGoldrick Center and said, “I don’t really know what I’m doing here or what I can get out of it, but I’d like to talk to someone about the internship program.”

That awkward, hurried introduction turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made at USM. A gentleman named Peter overheard my conversation at the front desk and came over. He asked me questions, handed me his business card, and told me to make an appointment to get my resume checked.

Discovering CEIP and the USM Foundation

Maxfield Rhine standing for a photo op in front of Mitchell Institute step and repeat

That moment is how the Career Exploration Internship Program came into view. As a junior, I knew I needed to start applying what I was learning in class to the real world. I wanted to figure out what I actually enjoyed. I browsed the CEIP internships, and that is how I found the USM Foundation.

I had always been a commuter student. I was not deeply involved in extracurriculars. I came to campus for classes, tutoring, and the occasional visit to the Health Center, which at the time doubled as my primary care provider. To say I understood the inner workings of USM, its leadership, or how these big new buildings came to be, would have been a stretch. Still, the Foundation internship sounded meaningful. It was on campus and felt aligned with my values. So I applied, interviewed and got the position.

Seeing the bigger picture

I spent the spring of 2025 as an intern, supporting outreach and engagement programs and connecting with students and alumni through projects like the Class Gift. I learned how philanthropy and generosity create real impact at USM. But the experience reinforced something even deeper. It showed me that when I leave USM, there will still be a USM for tomorrow’s students. The resources I relied on will still exist, and maybe there will be even more. That continuity matters.

When my internship ended, I was surprised to be invited back for the fall. Later that semester, I applied for a full-time position. In December 2025, I officially joined the team. None of that would have been possible without the Career Hub, CEIP, and the people at USM who invested in me when no one else really had. My life would look significantly different if I had not walked through those doors. For that, I am incredibly grateful.

Asking for help

I engaged with a lot of campus services during my time at USM, but that is not much different from how I have lived my life since high school. I have always believed if there is a resource out there that can help me, make my life easier, or point me in the right direction, I should take advantage of it before it passes me by.

One moment stands out. During my sophomore year, I was struggling in my economics class. A few external factors had made the start of the semester difficult, and I fell behind. My first two exams did not go well, so I sat down with my professor. I admitted my shortcomings and told her the truth: I had not put in enough time or energy, and I was worried I would not pass.

It was a tough conversation. She was kind, but honest. The probability of passing, especially at that point in the semester, was low. I left with my head down, unsure what to do.

Maxfield Rhine working at his desk as an intern at L.L.Bean

Finding the path to success

That same afternoon, I had an appointment at the counseling office. I had been going for about a year and had found a counselor I really connected with. We talked through the situation, and at some point I asked her what I needed to do. She paused, then asked me the same question.

“What do you think you need to do?”

“Drop out,” I retorted.

She met that with a measured, understanding frown. So we sat with it. We talked. And eventually, the path forward became clear. I needed to put in the work. I needed to lock myself in the library for the rest of the semester and try as hard as I possibly could. More than that, I needed the resources around me.

I needed to meet with my economics professor weekly. I needed to reserve tutoring sessions. I needed to stay after class and ask follow-up questions. I needed to learn how to love the work.

And in time, I did.

I passed.

Was it miraculous? Maybe. But more likely, it happened because USM had the resources to support me. And even more likely, because people believed in me when I did not yet believe in myself.