2021 was a highly successful year for Virginia's women's swimming program -- thanks in part to the hard work of Madison House volunteer Paige Madden.
Early in the year, the UVA team won the program’s first NCAA swimming title. Months later, at the Summer Olympics, four swimmers — Paige Madden (UVA), Allison Schmitt, Katie McLaughlin, and Katie Ledecky — represented the U.S. in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay and brought home a silver medal.
While at UVA, Paige faced the pressures that go along with being a student who is also training for the Olympic trials. Yet, despite these outside pressures, Paige found time to volunteer through Madison House.
“Volunteering with Madison House gave me a great outlet and distraction while I was training for Olympic trials,” she says. “I am a big believer in balance. I think having a life separate from my swimming allowed me to not put too much pressure on myself and be successful in the pool.”
“I was afraid to join Madison House at first because of my busy schedule, but I soon found that every minute was worth it. Not only did I make new friends and have a new outlet, but I found a sense of purpose and was able to give back to the community.”
The House has long been a place where students can come to find or rediscover themselves and their place within the community. This held true for Paige, who shared that “it gives me peace of mind knowing that I am a good swimmer but that's not what defines me. There's so much more to life, like helping others. My time at Madison House has allowed me to see that.”
Paige volunteered with CAVS in the Classroom, a Madison House program that pairs students as teachers’ aides in elementary school classrooms. She was placed in Woodbrook Elementary School, working with elementary students with learning disabilities.
“When I first showed up to Woodbrook Elementary, I had no idea that I would be working with kids with learning disabilities,” she remembers. “I was nervous at first. But these kids wanted to learn just as badly as anyone else. They just had to do it a little differently. I loved it so much that I transitioned to tutoring 10th graders twice a week.”
Paige found her experience with Madison House very rewarding. Not only did it give balance to her busy schedule, but she was able to see the difference her efforts made in the students she was working with.
“I was afraid to join Madison House at first because of my busy schedule, but I soon found that every minute was worth it. Not only did I make new friends and have a new outlet, but I found a sense of purpose and was able to give back to the community.”
Author: Brady Holbrook; bgh7wen@virginia.edu
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