student spotlight
By Natalie Caswell
Student Spotlight features a student from an area school in every issue.
Making Big Moves Madison Keaton overcomes moving across the country, bullying and the quarantine adison Keaton might be the queen of overcoming obstacles. In 2017, Madison and her family moved from California to Pickerington. The transition was difficult for the thenyoung student who is on the autism spectrum. However, she was able to find solace in basketball. She started playing at age 5 and has loved the game ever since. Madison doesn’t love it just for the athleticism, she also enjoys the camaraderie. Her favorite part? It’s a tough call. “Just playing in front of people, having teammates, being able to score the ball and the atmosphere when I play,” Keaton says. Even though things on the court are a slam dunk, the new move hasn’t been all fun and games. Madison struggled with bullying at her new school, particularly after one difficult incident. “I didn’t show up to school for three days,” she says. “Everything that (the bullies) said, I know isn’t true. Even if it was true, if they were making fun of how I talk, it’s fine because I’m cool with how I talk.” The support of Madison’s friends and her mother, Ruth, helped, along with her positive attitude. “Just know that you’re a bigger person than them, and you’re gonna get through it,” Madison says. As if she hadn’t already faced enough, the pandemic hit. Students across the nation were told to stay home, not just from school, but from hanging out with friends and, yes, playing the team sports they loved. Madison, never to be discouraged, occupied herself by making TikTok videos, connecting with friends via social media and by trying new hobbies like painting. “It’s funny because when we had school I didn’t want to go, but now that I can’t go, I want to,” she says. Now that businesses have begun to reopen, Madison looks forward to the Amateur Athletic Association basketball season and hopes to eventually catch the attention of college scouts. 26
Photos courtesy of Ruth Keaton
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Madison also loves collecting and solving Rubik’s Cubes. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
