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As a homeschooled high school student, Madison Cable craved the interaction that can only take place in a classroom.

By participating in a dual-enrollment program at Bridgewater State, Madison is seizing that opportunity while earning credits toward a high school diploma and bachelor’s degree.

“I wanted to broaden my academic and social horizons,” said Madison, who especially enjoyed classes in college algebra and precalculus with trigonometry. “Being able to advance my math skills with other students and being taught by professors is something I’ve always wanted. It’s amazing and I love it.”

Madison, a Taunton resident who began taking Bridgewater classes in spring 2023, also completed music, English and sociology courses on campus. Being in a college environment taught her perseverance and self-advocacy – skills that were essential in accomplishing another impressive feat.

Madison recently received the Congressional Award’s gold medal, the highest achievement in a federal government program that recognizes young people for volunteerism, character development and fitness. She documented 800 hours of activities and completed an expedition in just two years.

“It was a very rewarding experience and I’m very glad I was able to achieve that,” said Madison, who recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the medal alongside approximately 700 of her peers.

Madison tracked her progress in a large binder overflowing with records of activities such as serving holiday meals to people in need and becoming a student leader in the Handel and Haydn Society, a musical nonprofit she has long performed with. She incorporated her love of dance into the fitness requirement. And Madison completed the expedition virtually (due to the pandemic) by studying what life was like in Colonial Williamsburg in comparison to England.

Now entering her senior year of high school, Madison plans to continue taking classes at ɫ����Ƶ in the fall. She aspires to study a STEM field at a four-year college after graduation, something for which she is well prepared thanks to her time at Bridgewater.

While Madison took college-level classes virtually as early as middle school, she credited ɫ����Ƶ with bringing a new dimension to her education. In addition to improving her study skills, she’s now comfortable reaching out to professors with questions and making full use of resources such as the library and Academic Achievement Center.

Madison encouraged other high school students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves through dual-enrollment courses.

“I think the best way to prepare for college is just to take college classes and get in there and have that experience under your belt,” she said. “It’s so rewarding, and it gave me an experience that I never thought I would be able to have.”

Do you have a ɫ����Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.