Senior Spotlight: Madison Atherton-Graham

April 29, 2019

When senior Madison Atherton-Graham started at Léman in the 9th grade, she was excited for new opportunities. "I fell in love with Léman as soon as I took a tour," she said, "The thing that most attracted me was the diverse student body. I love sharing my culture and learning about other people's cultures and Léman was the perfect place to do that. When I got here I saw that the teachers are very caring and really took time to help you understand the coursework."

As a member of the National Honor Society, a Student Ambassador, the Vice President and co-founder of the Arabic Club and a member of Léman Main Stage, Madison has found that Léman has given her the opportunity to spread her wings. Her positive attitude and sense of adventure will serve her well next fall when she enrolls at NYU Abu Dhabi, one of three degree-granting campuses in NYU's global network, which also includes Shanghai and New York City. The university overall is ranked #28 Best Global Universities by US News and World Report. "I had no idea that NYU had other campuses, but my college counselor Ms. Barcham suggested it based on my interest in Arabic and Middle Eastern culture and I'm so happy she did," she said.

As a full IB Diploma Candidate, Madison feels prepared for the academic rigor that she'll face in college. "The IB is a lot of work, but if you set a time table for yourself and keep up with your coursework, you'll succeed. I know there's a lot of writing in college and I think the IB taught me to be a really good writer," she said. That ability also helped her in the college application process. "Writing my personal essay was my favorite part of applying to college. I got to explore what I wanted them to know about me, how persevering and determined I am to reach certain goals and surpass them. I love to write so it was a really positive experience to express myself through my essay," she said.

When asked what advice she'd give to a student entering the High School at Léman, she said, "Don't be afraid to try new things. There are so many opportunities at Léman, you'll have a great experience no matter what you do."

Congratulations, Madison! We know you'll be successful at NYU Abu Dhabi and beyond!