General | Friday 07/05/2019

This week for our summer series, we had the chance to catch up with Anita Maxwell former Aggie women's basketball player and NM State legend to ask some questions about her outstanding careers in college and professionally, her life outside of the women's basketball team and her post-playing career.
 
Maxwell was the first player in Division I College Basketball, men or women, to have at least 2,500 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 steals in a college career. She is also the all-time leader in points, rebounds, steals at NM State. Maxwell was named an honorable mention All-American and Big West Player of the Year for three-consecutive seasons.
 
She was drafted by the Cleveland Rockers with the 29th overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft, the first-ever draft class for the then-burgeoning league. Following the 1997 season, Maxwell played professionally overseas for three seasons before transitioning to the workforce.
 
Currently, Maxwell is the founder of SuccessFull Living, a financial planning company that helps clients understand and make better decisions when it comes to their finances. She is also the host of the SuccessFull Living podcast, a bi-monthly show that aims to "develop success habits through engagement and education that leads to transformation."
 
When did you know you wanted to go to New Mexico State?
I knew I wanted to sign early during my senior year of high school so I planned three visits. My first was to Syracuse, New Mexico State was second and then the University of Southern California. I knew I wanted to attend New Mexico State after my visit, but I took my third just to be sure.
 
Do you recall your first full summer in the Las Cruces heat?
Yes I do! My first full summer I remember having CDs in the trunk of my car. I came out one day and they had melted!
 
Who was your closest friend on the team was? Do you still keep in touch with them today?
My closest friend on the team was Judy Bell. Unfortunately, she was taken from us too soon in 2009. She was not only my teammate, but our bond was deepened when we pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. together. We even lived in the same neighborhood after college back in the Dallas area.
 
What did the rivalries with UNM and UTEP mean to you and your teammates?
 The UNM and UTEP rivalries were the tournament within the tournament. Overall wins mattered but wins against those two teams were expected!
 
What was your favorite thing to do with your teammates?
We were a close-knit group so despite spending a lot of time together on the court, we spent time together socially. When you saw one of us, you saw all of us.
 
Are you a red chile or green chile person?
OMG…Green chile please! I came back recently and could not wait to get some green chile chicken enchiladas.
 
What did you take from your experience in Las Cruces?
My time in Las Cruces laid a great foundation for my life. My determination and character were developed as I juggled being a student and athlete. The friendships I made still stand today.
 
What is your fondest memory from your career here at New Mexico State? What was your most embarrassing moment that you look back on now and laugh at?
I had different memories I am fond of. One unexpected one, and pretty out of character for me, was being voted Homecoming Queen.

 

Can you talk about what you do now as a financial planner and your company SuccessFULL Living?
We aim to help anyone, specifically families who traditionally have not had access to professional financial assistance by working with them to improve their complete financial outlook. We come from an educational approach so that we not only assist with an analysis of their current financial situation but take steps with them to reach their future financial goals.
 
What parallels can you draw from your time at New Mexico State to how you've excelled on the court and in your career as a business woman?
It gave me a foundation but I had a delayed entry into the workforce. I truly believe that experience is the best teacher and so I learned what I was interested in (and not) from doing different jobs. After following a non-traditional work path (with my first four years being overseas), I took the advice of one of my business professors (Dr. Kevin Boberg) who told me that I have my whole life to work. When opportunities come (such as the one with playing professionally), seize them! My participation in sports at NM State gave me the confidence and courage to try new things and to understand that I can become good at anything with a dedication to the work.
 

What would you credit as most critical or most influential to your successes in the years following NM State?
Most critical to my success was a supportive family and friends. I had great mentors while in college and found them along the way. Not only did I have mentors, but I had sponsors who were willing to speak well of me to other people. That gave me a great training ground to explore my interests.
 
What advice would you give student-athletes now making the transition into the work force?
Today I tell people that experience matters. Find ways to engage in what you are interested in even before the transition happens. Even if that means volunteering. We save a lot of time, money and energy when we have a chance to move past the theory of the textbooks. Also, it is okay to not have all of the answers. College completion shows that you could follow a curriculum but learning never ends. One of my favorite quotes is: "In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."