"Im Madeline, I'm Madeline"

    As you know my name is Madeline.  Many people ask me if I was named Madeline after the movie character 'Madeline' or if I am the actual 'Madeline'.  It is quite hilarious at times.  Through out my life I have changed quite a bit; but, for the past four or five years I can honestly say that I have not changed that much.
    Up until the age of 13, I was a very introverted person.  I hated meeting new people and did not know how to be myself around anyone.  Once I got to high school I met  my group of friends in the church youth group and I have never been the same. God, family and friends have been and will always be very important to me.  Without them I do not know where I would be.  I knew before coming to Converse I was going to have problems leaving Alabama, but I knew I could get through it with God and the support of the people that care for me the most. 
    Since I have been at Converse, I really have not changed very much.  I have learned how to be independent, manage what money I do have, and just how easy I had it back at home.  Due to events that have occurred in my life in the past year, I have not been able to open up to people as easily as I used to since coming here.  Other than that, I am still trying to figure out who I am and what I believe. 
    Once my four years at Converse is complete, I would like to attend graduate school at Juilliard.  After Juilliard I would like to work at Disney World and on Broadway.  Along with those two things, I want to start a dance club and be a recording artists.  After all that has been accomplished I can then settle down and marry the man of my dreams(whomever that may be)!  This is my plan, but I realize this may not be God's plan and if it is not than I will take his path gladly.   

"Student's(HUMANS) vs. Teachers(ZOMBIES)"

    Teachers, do you ever feel as if you could go back in time?  Do you ever miss doing the crazy things you used to partake in?  Well with my tradition you would have the perfect opportunity. 
    Seeing as we, the students technically live in Blackman we think you the teachers should too!  One weekend, we should have a 'Student and Teacher Lock In'.  We would stay up all night playing music and decorating the building then the following day we would have guest artists  come in and perform for us.  After the performance was over, they would give us a master class.  The following day, the festivities would begin.  We would have balloon fights along with paint ball fights; we could call it "Students vs. Teachers"!  After all that fun and excitement we would go our separate ways! 
    Now, I am quite aware that this idea may never be implemented, but it would be fun!  It would give the teachers a chance to get in touch with their inner youth again!

The Songs I Can NOT Live with out!

    Growing up, I listened to country music because that is what my dad listened too.  I have heard every country song there is and watched every country music video there is.  In high school I would wake up an hour earlier, to watch CMT(Country Music Television).  I loved getting excited to see my favorite music videos; it was a time of relaxation.  The songs I enjoy listening to the most when I am stressed are "I'd Lie" by Taylor Swift, "Innocence" by Sarah Buxton, and "Sk8er boy" by Avril Lavigne. 
    "I'd Lie" is a very well written song about a girl being in love with her best friend.  She can tell you everything about him, but if someone were to ask her if she loved him she woul lie.  It is a song that makes any girl think and realize that she herself, has been in the same situation herself.  Sarah Buxton's song "Innocence", is a very sentimental song for me.  My best friend and I loved this song as soon as we heard it.  It is such a pretty song that people like me, do not really listen to the words until the tenth time listening to it.  It is about a girl loosing her "innocence" in many ways and never being  able to get that back.  Every time I hear it, it makes me miss my best friend.  The next song that is just like my guilty pleasure, that I listen to, to really relieve some frustration is "Sk8er Boy".  Avril Lavigne's song is about a boy and a girl of two opposite worlds dating, then breaking up because people said he was not good enough for her.  One day, when my friends and I listened to this song we made up hand motions.  The motions make the song so much more fun and entertaining for everyone; a great way to just let loose! 
   The creation of music was the best idea in the entire world.  I am so thankful that music is such a big part of my life.  I am excited to hear more songs that I can listen to, to escape my life!   
 

"Flocks"

    Two years from now, if I were to come back and talk with the freshman class, I would say alot of what Tori and Sarah said.  Being a freshman, is not necessarily hard or impossible it is just very different from high school.  In high school, you live at home and your parents help out more than you realize.  When you start college you are out on your own, to discover the world. 
    When I first came to Converse, I was not very excited about the whole college experience, therefore I did not prepare myself in the right manner.  I had none of my books ordered, and I had not made a schedule for myself.  I realize now, that the schedule is one of the most important things.  I am now having to make a strict schedule for myself and actually schedule time to sleep.  I think college is a bit challenging, but nothing I can not handle.  I was surprised to find that even though the classes are challenging, the professors are willing to do what they can to help you.   
    In two years, I hope I am well on my way to achieving my goal as a vocal peroformance major.  I want my musicianship skills as well as my voice to be even better.  In order to achieve my goals, I must stick to the strict schedule I plan on making for myself! 
   Other than planning out their time well, the main thing I would emphasize to the freshman girls, is to stay healthy.  Eat the right foods and excercise.  I never realized how important it was to stay healthy until I came to Converse.  It is a key ingredient to sucess.     

Technology can cause ISSUES!!

    Ever since I was a little girl, my mother has placed me in every curricular activity there is.  I started taking dance at the age of two years old, then at the age of eight I began piano lessons and voice lessons.  At the age of eleven I began taking violin lessons and harp lessons.  Along with the my music activities, I was also very active in school and church activities.  I was involved in the National Honor Society, National Music Honor Society, Latin Club, Key Club, Show Choir, Dance Ensemble, the high school plays and I was an Ambassador for our school, church youth group and choir.  Seeing as I was always busy, time management was a must.  I had a strict schedule growing up, but the schedule was planned and enforced by me and me alone.  My mother was very supportive of my goals I had set for myself, but she wanted me to become independent, therefore she allowed me to do many things on  my own. 
    Up until the ninth grade, I really did not have  much of a life.  I did not have many friends, therefore I never had anywhere to go on the weekends.  I was not up to date on all the technological things, such as cell phones, myspace or facebook.  Towards the end of high school, in about tenth grade, is when EVERYTHING changed.   I really found that staying focused on my studies as well as my music would be somewhat more challenging.  As soon as I received my cellphone I quickly became a professional texter, and as soon as I set up my facebook account, I became a professional at that also.  Now being here at Converse, I really have many people here to even keep an eye on me, to even ask how my lessons are going, and I do not have to report to any parents, therefore everything is on me.  When a girl like me has that much responsibility, you would think I would be able to handle it, but it has been VERY hard for me to keep my focus, due to the fact there is a good amount of work and so many extra things to participate in.  It can be somewhat overwhelming, to the point I feel like I can not complete it all so I just do not even try. 

1. Since the beginning of my senior year my voice teacher has talked highly of Converse College and all it has to offer in the Music Department.  I visited twice, to see if Converse was the college for me, and at first I did not believe it was, but apprently God thought it was so here I am. 
2   I guess I expected that the faculty and staff would want to know the real reason as to why I am here at Converse, so here comes the truth.  When visiting, I really did not care for the college for many reasons.  I was not used to being surrounded by all girls, being in such a spacious environment, and I felt as if it was too strict for my taste.  I was planning on attending Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannha, Georgia because that is the place I loved and felt like home.  At the last minute God directed my path here to Converse and I know that I am here for a reason, and look forward to figuring out what reason that is exactly. 
3. My entire life I have been performing,everything from dancing at the age of two, to singing all through out high school.  I loved every minute of performing and my parents supported me completely. Ever since I was twelve I knew I wanted to study music and anything that had to do with music, because it completes me.  Allthough I will probably not be making much money, I am completely ok with that because I will be doing what I love.  Plus my husband is going to make all the money. 
4.  As I am sure you know, growing up, children get sent to school with three things.  Those things being snack, juice and a sandwich.    I can tell you every type of sandwich there is.  Let's see, there is the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, turkey and mustard sandwich, bologna sandwiches, ham sandwiches, tomato and ranch sandwiches and my personal favorite, egg sandwiches!  Allthough these sandwiches are great, I would like a something a little different, therefore I believe I would take cereal over sandwiches any day!