Student Today, Teacher Tomorrow
Lisa Patrick
Ashland Beacon
Cassidy Madden is a senior graduating from Greenup County High School who already has definitive plans for her future, and they do not include leaving her hometown forever. Madden intends to come back and teach mathematics at her Alma Mater.
Madden has had a “fun, adventurous and unpredictable” journey through high school. Her favorite classes were Peer Tutoring, Library Aide, and her Education course. Peer Tutoring gave her a chance to work in the special education classroom. Madden said that she “enjoyed every second of it” and “can’t imagine my life now without these kids in it. They have brought me so much joy every day.” She enjoyed spending the past two years working in the school library and learning how they function from the inside, and her education gave her an idea of what it’s like to be a part of the teaching side of the classroom. Her Sophomore Practicum gave her the chance to observe and assist the teachers and even granted her the opportunity to teach “small lessons.”
Madden’s senior year has included some honors recognition too. Her graduation gown will include honor cords for Educators Rising, Peer Mentoring, Governor’s Cup (FPS), Rho Kappa, Talent Search, Honors with Highest Distinction, and for the Future Business Leaders of America. She has also received pins for Superintendent Scholar and Library Aide, stoles for Honors with Highest Distinction and Upward Bound Math and Science, and medals for College and Career Ready, National Beta Club, and Marketing Certification. In addition, at the Greenup County High School’s Senior Awards Ceremony, Madden was awarded the Certificate of Skill Attainment, the Academic Award for Precalculus, an award for All “A” Honor Roll, and a Great Eight Certification.
Madden doesn’t let her school activities consume her life though. She makes sure to throw in some fun-even though that fun can also be hard work. Madden dances at Rhythm and Rhinestones in Portsmouth. Every Tuesday and Thursday night, she is there dancing ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. Wednesday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday mornings, Madden can be found spending time in lessons of faith at Wrights Chapel.
Madden will be attending Morehead State University this fall with the help of the many scholarships she has received. These include: Horatio Alger Kentucky Scholar scholarship, Dean’s Scholar Scholarship, and Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship. Her major will be Mathematics through the MSU Teach Program/Path. After graduating college, Madden plans “to become a mathematics teacher at my hometown high school: Greenup County High School.”
Madden hopes to make her contribution to making the world a better place by “teaching the future adults of the world to be strong leaders, teaching life skills and lessons, and inspiring them to beat the odds and follow their dreams.” She also plans to give back to her community through volunteer work and by “opening up a tutoring center of my own one day.”
Madden’s favorite part of high school is “the friendships that you make along the way and the life lessons you learn.” She is really going to “miss my classmates as we all go our separate ways and embark on our different journeys.” She is also going to miss “each of my teachers who have truly impacted my life.” Madden would like to reach out and give special thanks for supporting her through her senior year to her family, her friends, her teachers this year, “especially Mrs. Hensley who recommended me for this [article in the Ashland Beacon senior edition],” and the students and staff in the Greenup County High School Special Education room. Madden went on to say that “high school has been a blast, and I’m sad to leave it behind but excited to see what the future holds.”