Madeline Zimmerman '19 Recruiting Profile

My parents have shaped the dedicated person I am today by introducing to me the most important things in life at a very young age. They have continuously encouraged me to work hard, be responsible, and care about others. My favorite volunteer project was when I made a lemonade stand in my neighborhood. I used the stand to raise money for my local no-kill shelter and encouraged people to donate items the shelter needs daily, including paper towels, dog food and newspapers. Volunteering teaches me to be dedicated to the things I love, including golf.

I first became interested in golf when I would see my dad leave to play with his friends. I wanted play with him, but my dad said I had to learn how to play first. I have taken lessons with my personal coach Cory Ryan for 10 years, I continuously beat my dad in this game my entire family enjoys playing together.

In my community, I am the only girl my age who plays golf. I have discovered I like playing a sport where I need only to rely on myself. However, golf has also shown me that I enjoy the company of others. There are many days when I practice alone and feel lonely because I do not have anyone with whom to carry on a conversation. To make myself feel less alone, I listen to music while I practice. Being the only girl at my high school dedicated to golf, I learned to adapt to long car rides to competitive tournaments that are often two or more hours away. By having to pave my own way, I gained the ability to make friends with the girls I compete against. I love to play with new people and compete against different people in each tournament. 

My goals in school are simple but require hard work. I will maintain my 97 GPA and remain in the top 10 percent of my graduating class. I have started the journey to my career goals by volunteering once a week at Ellen Trout Zoo helping the zookeepers clean the giraffe and rhino cages. Once I reach college I will earn my bachelors and masters in Zoology and animal sciences and possibly continue to earn my doctorate.