By Madison Reinschmidt
Hi, I’m Madison Reinschmidt, a senior mass communication-writing and editing major at Southern Adventist University. I grew up in a home where my parents raised my siblings and me as Seventh-day Adventists; they taught us to work hard and to be strong in our beliefs.
My parents pushed me to be the best version of myself possible, enrolling me in musical instrument lessons, dance classes and accelerated classes from a young age. This led me to become a perfectionist and, sometimes, an individual who struggles with the idea of being “good enough.” However, because of the investments that my parents made in me and the faith they had in my success, I have become a person that I am proud of and who strives for growth everyday.
Family dynamics certainly last a lifetime. As a firstborn child (I have a younger sister, Izzy, and younger brother, Asa), I have learned much about what it means to be a role model and leader. Being the oldest sibling can be difficult – I feel as if I am often held to a higher standard to set an example for my younger siblings. However, being the oldest sibling is also a blessing – I have the responsibility of being empathetic, protective and unselfish (although these character traits can be difficult to portray!).
I believe that through my life experiences, I have become a person who cares deeply for the people around me. I consider myself an individual who is passionate about human rights, especially the rights of women and mothers as they raise their children.
I have also recognized the importance of childhood experiences and how they can impact overall child development. Studying the influences that parents and siblings have on an individual has become a topic that I have a deep interest in.
I am excited to explore the impacts of child development on a person and how topics like child development in pregnancy, family dynamics and adversity impacts an individual. By exploring these topics, we can explore insightful connections between the human experience and belief systems.