Whether it is singing, athletics or volunteering, Maddy has found that being involved in activities has given her confidence and a new outlook on life.
She came to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch more than a year ago from Stephenville. She thought the Boys Ranch campus was beautiful, but that is where her positive outlook ended.
“I did not like this place. I thought it was atrocious,” Maddy said. “I did not want to be here. I was trying to figure out how I could go back home. I was doing everything in the book. Eventually, I started doing sports, and I really started hanging out with the other athletes. That is when I realized this place isn’t bad at all.”
Maddy participated in shotput for track, making it to the regional competition. She has also played basketball, enjoys singing, and does landscaping for her Experiential Learning Project. At the 2023 rodeo, Maddy even volunteered as a hawker to sell concessions in the stands.
“Growing up I was always in the house all the time. I was at home, going to school all day and then I had to come home and stay inside all day,” Maddy said. “The fact that I have the opportunity to go out places and do things, I’m going to take any advantage I can get.”
The annual Christmas Cantata is a favorite memory for Maddy, who sang in the 2023 event at the chapel. She said she appreciates the amount of work and talent that goes into creating a unique production each year.
“I had never been part of a Christmas Cantata before, and I just wanted to be part of it,” Maddy said. “I think most people can connect to things through music, so I feel like being a part of the music crew helps connect to Jesus.”
Maddy’s faith has evolved a lot during her time at Boys Ranch, and she has now found a way to balance her emotions during life’s ups and downs.
“When I first came here, I was mad, and I thought God had done this to me. I went to camp that summer, and I got close again to God,” she said. “Being part of chapel has helped a lot. Two of my friends got baptized recently, and that was nice. My faith in Jesus has really gotten a lot better.”
Maddy will soon graduate high school and plans to move into the Boys Ranch Alumni Support Center in Amarillo. She plans to work hard so she can get her own apartment and vehicle. She hopes to continue to work in landscaping, which she has learned about at Boys Ranch.
Her time at Boys Ranch has allowed her to be more prepared for adult living after high school, which Maddy said she appreciates.
“Coming to Boys Ranch really woke me up and was an eye opener in a good way. I’ve gained a lot of patience,” she said.
“I want the donors to know that their money is helping in more ways than they think it is. Their money goes to help kids, but it also helps the adults who take care of the kids. Without the adults here, we wouldn’t have kids here.”