Godwin Heights — As Madeleen Garcia Velez walked on to the Godwin Heights football field for graduation, she felt a sense of relief.
“I’m done with (high school), starting a new chapter,” Madeleen said of the moment. “I feel really proud of myself for everything I’ve overcome in these past few years.”
Madeleen credits her family — especially her parents, Maria Velez and Emmanuel Garcia — for motivating her to overcome challenges like a lack of focus and shyness, and for encouraging her to keep pushing toward graduation.
“(My parents) didn’t go to college; I would probably say that motivated me more to graduate from high school and go into a career after high school,” she said.
Counselor Kristi Bonilla said Madeleen has been a positive force at Godwin Heights, welcoming to monolingual students and spreading her infectious attitude.
“She truly learned how to push forward and became dedicated to finishing high school with high grades, all while enhancing the climate and culture of the school,” Bonilla said.
Finding a Way to Stay Engaged
Madeleen began her education at Southwest Community Campus in Grand Rapids, a bilingual program. At the time she attended — up until four years ago — the campus served students from preschool through eighth grade, so she had to transfer to another school for high school.
She had cousins and friends attending Godwin Heights, so Madeleen decided to start her high-school career there.
“I was kind of scared of being like the new student and stuff,” she said. “A week into school I already had made friends and everything. … I felt welcome.”
Madeleen said when she was younger, she struggled with some subjects such as math. She discovered classes that were hands-on and group projects kept her engaged and she understood the content better. But if she did not find the subject interesting, her attention would wander.
As she progressed through high school, she found the struggle to stay focused becoming more difficult.
“I feel like it was probably the people around me,” she said. “They would distract me and I was always talking (in) class and that’s why it was hard for me to focus.”
Then her junior year, she took Algebra II with teacher James Rex.
“I used to be one of the students that say I never liked math, and then in (Rex’s) class, (I was) one of the first students to turn everything in and always give out answers.”
Rex said he enjoyed watching Madeleen grow from a shy, quiet student who showed potential to becoming an asset in the classroom, collaborating with her peers.
“She had a strong work ethic and number sense, but she didn’t see herself as a mathematician,” he said. “Throughout the year, I began to see her personality emerge — she is very funny — and watched her confidence grow.
“By the year’s end, she was an exceptional student. Her ability to think critically, persevere in problem-solving and her overall confidence had improved tremendously.”
Staying On Task
Madeleen also had another defining moment in her SAT Prep class.
“That was the one I struggled the most with,” she said. “They said those credits are the important ones because they help you with college and that’s when I realized I had to pay attention. I had to take this seriously.”
“Seriously” because Madeleen already had her eye on a career in the medical field, which she knew meant more education.
“My first option was pediatrician … and then I figured out that it was 11 years (of school) and I was like ‘No, I don’t think I’m gonna be able to do that,’” she said.
She has been considering a career as an ultrasound technician, but also has been exploring her options through the certified nursing assistant program, a cooperative between Kent ISD and Grandville’s Center for Medical Training.
This fall, she plans to start at Grand Rapids Community College to continue exploring her interests while fulfilling general education requirements.
As she looks back on her high-school career, Madeleen said she would encourage students to stay motivated and never be afraid to ask for help.
“I feel like I was the one who was always afraid to ask for help,’” she said. “I would think everybody else probably knows the answer and I’m the one who doesn’t and I would be embarrassed to ask.
“So stay focused. Ask for help when you need it and if you are interested in something, just go for it. Don’t worry about what others might say. If that’s what you’re interested in and something you love, just go for it.”
Read more from Godwin Heights:
• District initiative designed to create a sense of belong
• Expanded dual enrollment boosts students’ early college credits