Madison Carlin exits Iola High School with a few nuggets of wisdom, chiefly among them, time flies by at warp speed when youre as busy as shes been.
Ive always been the kind of person to be involved in things, she said. I wanted to experience all I could. And when youre involved in everything, constantly doing something, it goes by quickly.
The daughter of Iolans Roger and Terri Carlin is one of 10 IHS seniors who will be honored during commencement ceremonies Saturday with having a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
Shell enroll at Kansas State University in the fall her fathers alma mater with a number of options to consider.
Im still not sure what Im doing, she said. Itll be either graphics design and marketing or elementary education.
Shes done plenty to immerse herself in both disciplines while at Iola.
Carlins senior year is loaded with graphics design classes three hours worth a day while another portion is spent assisting her mother as a student aide in Terri Carlins Lincoln Elementary third-grade classroom.
Its been nice to learn skills like how to work with students, she said. I really like the way my mom teaches and how she treats the kids. Its nice to see her in the actual classroom setting.
Becoming a teacher would continue a family tradition in the Carlin household. Her father is a retired Iola Middle School history and economics instructor.
Madison never studied under her mother, but she did have a couple of classes with her father.
That was fun, she said. I still called him Dad. Calling him Mr. Carlin would have felt weird.
But a career in education is hardly set in stone.
As a business student under Laura Schinstock, and Tina Stanley before her, Carlin has learned the ins and outs of graphic design and Photoshop.
Shes also been recruited to assist with creating newsletters for the Iola Rotary Club and her Wesley United Methodist Church youth group.
Carlin also played volleyball, ran track, was a member of the Student Council and Site Council, was active with her FBLA chapter, starred in school plays and was a member of the National Honor Society.
HER PASSION, however, is tied to her music.
