19-year-old Claflin grad determined to achieve

                                                                                                  Madison Gordon

She starts her day as early as 8 a.m. with prayer, making sure she takes a moment to show God he has her attention at the beginning of every day.

She fixes up her bedroom area, listens to uplifting music and prepares her first meal of the day. 

After breakfast, she looks over her schedule and gets ready for class. 

When she's done with her classes, she organizes and looks over her notes. She prepares to get ahead on assignments posted for the week.  

Once she's done with schoolwork, she makes sure she gets lunch and tends to any maintenance or chores.

Some days she has gospel choir practice with the Claflin Dream Gospel Choir, an award-winning group that travels. Their purpose is to use their voices and spread the gospel through praise and song.  

Outside of this, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and takes time throughout her week working on their mission and taking part in different projects and community services events. 

This explains a regular day with Madison Gordon at Claflin University. 

A 19-year-old graduating senior, Gordon started her college journey at just 16. She was born in Sumter and raised between both Sumter and Summerton. She has always taken pride in her work ethic and constant drive to overachieve and take every opportunity that is available. 

Gordon is an honors student and being in the program has shaped her in many ways.

“It allows you to see that no matter how hard or different you think something is, you can achieve whatever it is you put your mind to,” she said.
Something from her background that's also shaped her is understanding that it's not about where you come from or how much money you have, it's about the work you're willing to put in to achieve your goals.  

“Growing up, my family and I weren't always the most fortunate, but we were appreciative. I've learned how to make lemonade with lemons, how to remain humble, and lastly how to complain about nothing but in everything give God thanks,” Gordon said. 

She spreads her love for music and talent for braiding across campus by providing hair service for students and singing for different events.  

 
Some of her many accomplishments on campus are:  

• Miss Asbury 2021-22 
• Freshman Class SGA Secretary 2021-22 
• Honors College Inductee 2022 
• Miss Orange and Maroon 2022-23 
• Pledged Delta Sigma Theta Spring 2023 
• President’s List  
• Financial secretary for the Gamma Chi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta 2024 

Gordon plans to attend graduate school and after that she will go into law school. She plans to be become a criminal defense attorney.