There comes a time in a person's life when they breathe a huge sigh of relief as they look back on all the years of schooling that filled their past. In this instance, it was schooling that started with a little girl in a red and white gingham smock happily learning and skipping through the Kindergarten 4 and Kindergarten 5 programs at ISSH in Tokyo, Japan. Here she learned that rubbish should always be thrown away in the bin and that pounded rice becomes delicious mochi. Never to be forgotten would be her announcement proudly made to her mother that she was chosen to be the Ass in the school Christmas Program:
(Grandpa Law and Madi do crafts at ISSH in Tokyo, Japan)
In New Jersey, she started 1st Grade at Lincoln-Hubbard Elementary School where she learned all about Australia, celebrated 100's day, and won 1st place for best hand-writing:
(Platypus report on Australia Day)
(Louise Smith was Madi's favorite and most influential elementary school teacher.)
(Madi as the "Star Student" of the week. Note: she was never a fan of the Boston Red Sox. She just happened to be on a t-ball team that was named the Boston Red Sox!)
Continuing on at Lincoln-Hubbard, she sailed through 2nd grade where she did a lot of writing:
3rd grade where she learned all the States and their capitals:
4th grade where she made a model of the solar system, played a part in the school play "Peter Pan in Neverland," and did a little self-prophesying:
5th grade where she learned about the earth, improved her art skills and was the 5th Grade Band's musician of the month once:
(Last day of Elementary School - Lincoln Hubbard Elementary Class of 2000)
Her first significant milestone was graduating from Lincoln-Hubbard Elementary School in Summit, NJ:
Summit Middle School was a time of growing up and making new friends. She ran track and made the honor roll. A mouse-maze science project with her best friend Dru was a highlight. The drama of middle school was ever present but she made it through 6th grade without too much scarring:
The news of an imminent move to Utah the summer before 7th grade presented new drama and challenges to deal with. Her family moved to Sandy, Utah and settled in just in time for school to begin.
She finished her Middle School and High School years at The Waterford School in Sandy, Utah. With a new school came new friends but also new challenges.
(First day of school 2002)
The news of an imminent move to Utah the summer before 7th grade presented new drama and challenges to deal with. Her family moved to Sandy, Utah and settled in just in time for school to begin.
She finished her Middle School and High School years at The Waterford School in Sandy, Utah. With a new school came new friends but also new challenges.
(Ali Knight, Michelle Barnes, Maddie West & Madi Horne)
The academic rigor of a private college prep school was challenging but she rose like a champ to meet it. Health issues presented themselves during her 8th grade year and resulted in a diagnosis of Systemic Lupus in her Sophomore year of High School. As if the rigors of scholastic and social life were not enough of a roller-coaster, her health made the "ride" a crazy one indeed!
(Volleyball Coach Manning & Madi)
(Michelle Barnes & Madi)
(The Waterford School Class of 2007)
College life at BYU in Provo, Utah was a welcome relief in some ways and added stress in other ways. Thanks to her high school experience, the academic aspect of college was easier than expected. Again, she made new friends and learned many new things:
(Madi and her first BYU roommates, Lindsey McMillan and Airin Bresock, who she adores!)
(Madi and Airin)
A perfectionist, she honed her learning skills and became a model student graduating with a 3.84 GPA! It was as a freshman that she discovered her career path after volunteering at an elementary school working with little children. She graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education and hopes to teach 1st grade somewhere in the Salt Lake Valley.
(The Family)
(Ian Jimenez and Madi)
Yup. A huge sigh of relief. No more exams. No more papers. No more annoying roommates. From here on out, she will be the one giving the tests and instilling her knowledge upon and touching the lives of her future students.
(Part of Madi's graduation gift is a new sewing machine! She also gets to go to Philadelphia to stay with Sterling and Sarah for a week!)
She is indeed a Happy Graduate!
She is indeed a Happy Graduate!
