Madeline Saunders, a freshman cheerleader at Stetson University, has always had a passion for performance.
Growing up, she was a competitive dancer until her sophomore year of high school. It was during this time that she discovered her love for cheerleading.
"I started cheering at my high school during my sophomore year and continued until I graduated," Saunders said. "I loved the rush I got from performing and competing, and cheerleading allowed me to be a part of people's memories and experiences on game days."
For the Titusville, Fla. native, it's not just about the cheers and routines; it's about creating moments that people will remember and look forward to when they attend games.
Inspired by her high school cheer coach, Saunders decided to pursue a major in elementary education at Stetson.
"She inspired me to be more confident and convinced me to go to college and pursue my education," she said. "She always believed in me and was the loudest one cheering for my accomplishments."
Saunders' goal is to start teaching at the early elementary level after college. She fell in love with teaching and helping kids learn during a senior year class where she tutored early elementary students. She knew then that she wanted to make a difference in young children’s lives.
As a member of the Stetson cheer team, Saunders has found a second family.
"I love our dynamic as a team and how the people truly feel like family to me," she said. "I feel like I have people in my grade who I can bond with and share all these new college experiences with that truly understand what I'm going through. I also feel like I have upperclassmen who always have my back and are there for me whenever I need them, no matter what."
Saunders' determination and drive have been evident since she was a child. One story from her childhood that captures who she was is how she got her splits.
"When I started dance, I really wanted to get my splits, so every night, I would stretch for hours and then fall asleep in a split," she said. "I was willing to do whatever it took to get my splits, and eventually, I did. I still think about this story when I want to remind myself what I'm capable of when I put my mind to something."
Looking to the future, Saunders hopes to be remembered as someone who was kind and empathetic.
"I want people to know I did my best to be kind and help people whenever I could," she said. "I want my friends, family, and future students to remember me as someone who put as much good into the world as possible."
With her passion for cheerleading and dedication to making a difference, Saunders is well on her way to leaving a lasting impact both on and off the field.
This story was developed using FanWord. The author and subject provided the initial concept and dialogue, with FanWord's AI tool generating the narrative structure and expanding descriptive passages.
