At this year’s Special Olympics senior Madison Edwards smiled as she watched her buddy proudly run the torch, describing the joy in his eyes as “the best thing ever.” This emotional moment defines the legacy Edwards hopes to leave behind at PCH.
“I was in third grade when I started helping kids [in Special Education classes]. I moved to a new school and didn’t really know anyone. I met a student in the hall and he screamed ‘Hi!’ in my face,” Edwards said. “The teacher explained to me about his disability and ever since then I just wanted to help.”
After meeting this student in elementary school, Edwards began helping out during her recesses. Often she would simply play with the students, soon building friendships with them.
“She has this amazing ability to connect with them. She’s gentle, sweet, and caring. Not only does she enjoy working with them, but she also values their friendship,” senior Greta Ivanova, Edward’s best friend, said.
During fifth grade, Edwards discovered that one the boys she was helping had a crush on her. Each day he would ask to kiss her, so the teachers and Edwards allowed him to kiss her on the hand. Unfortunately one of her new friend’s kisses left her arm splotchy from an allergic reaction.
“I’m allergic to peanut butter and one day he ate peanut butter and I didn’t know about it so when he kissed my hand I broke out in hives all over my arm,” Edwards said.
Fortunately Edwards can now laugh about that moment. Ivanova says it’s Edwards’ gentle nature in moments like the peanut butter incident that prove her character.
“Maddie represents Parkway Central by her gentle, caring personality. She respects and values everyone. She is never quick to judge, and she’ll always lend a helping hand,” Ivanova said.
In high school, Edwards’ devotion to the Special Education department grew as she began participating in P.E. Mentor, a class where General Education students assist Special Education students in P.E. class. Edwards has now taken P.E. Mentor three times and currently interns in the Autism Room.
“Just watching them, they seem like they have so much they could be upset about, but they start each day with a big smile and always seem so happy,” Edwards said. “They teach me a lot. They show you should not be upset about the little things. You should try each day to do your best. They taught me to be very patient and very accepting of everybody—I try to be.”
Reflecting upon her four years at PCH, Edwards commends the strengths in General Education students’ attitudes towards Special Education students, but she also notices some areas that she would like to see the relationship improved.
“There are students who are so nice to the kids with very profound disabilities, but they’re not nice to students with social disabilities like Aspergers,” Edwards said. “They just want to fit in like everyone else.”
Next year Edwards will attend Missouri State where she plans to double major in Special Education and Secondary Education. Embracing her passion for helping others, Edwards’ ultimate goal is to be a special education teacher and to start a theatre program for children with disabilities.
“I think [the theatre program] would give kids the confidence to do whatever they want and show that they can do everything a student without disabilities can do,” Edwards said.
