It could have started with the early childhood in Italy or the trans-Atlantic relocation to Maryland or the even the final move to Hawaii. But it didn’t.
To Matteo Muehlhauser’s reckoning it all started with the dog.
"I was already involved with the Scouts and with a lot church activities, but I really started to succeed academically when I told my parents I wanted a golden retriever and they said I could have one if I got straight A’s over two quarters," says Muehlhauser.
Already a solid student, Muehlhauser used the added incentive to ace all of his middle-school classes, in the process unlocking not just his great potential, but his great enthusiasm for learning as much as he can about the world around him.
Muehlhauser got Bella shortly after his family arrived in Honolulu 31⁄2 years ago. More than just a trusted companion, the dog is an everyday reminder to Muehlhauser of the great things that come with a little extra effort.
Muehlhauser, 16, the son of a Navy security officer and an Italian national, was born in Rome and spent his early years in Naples.
The family moved to Maryland when Muehlhauser was 7, an event Muehlhauser embraced, characteristically, with great excitement and little anxiety. He said he felt much the same way when the family moved to Honolulu.
A junior at Damien Memorial School, Muehlhauser continues to be active in Scouting, serving now as section chief of the Order of the Arrow (the Boy Scouts honor society), Western region, which includes Hawaii, Guam, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.
A National Honor Society member and avid reader of political science and public affairs books, Muehlhauser has honed his critical-thinking abilities through his participation with the Damien speech and debate team, for which he serves as captain.
He’s also a member of the school’s cross-country and track teams (competing in the 1,500- and 3,000-meter events) and a violinist with the school band.
During a family visit to Sea Life Park earlier this year, Muehlhauser met a girl who was visiting Hawaii through the support of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The encounter inspired him to work with NHS and local businesses to help raise funds for the charitable organization.
While Muehlhauser is more inclined to talk about his appreciation for his parents or brag about his two younger siblings, he acknowledges he has been able to accomplish much in his young life.
"I think I’m able to do a lot because I enjoy everything that I do," Muehlhauser says. "I like developing skills for myself, and I like being able to help other people when I can."
