A volunteer experience that had some bite

Jacqueline Madison said there’s one thing she won’t miss about Ursuline High School: the uniform.

“But I will miss the close-knit relationships I had with everyone, including my teachers,” she said. “Going from 160 in my class to 4,000 in college will be hard.”

The recent graduated will be heading to Santa Clara University in the fall. She’s interested in art and advertising. She also could see herself becoming a dentist.

Good thing she doesn’t have to declare her major in her freshman year.

“My dad always says make sure you do something you love and my mom is the same way. So, I’ll be exploring my options,” she said.

Madison, who finished with a 3.9 grade-point average, lives with her mom, Roselia, dad, James and brother, also named James, 14. The family has a Yorkie dog named Dolly.

Her favorite things include pesto pasta and ice cream, rock, rap and reggae music, swimming in the summer and snowboarding in the winter. Her favorite movies are either scary or funny and her reading-for-pleasure book list is topped by the Harry Potter series.

Her most recent embarrassing moment was a near slip at graduation, held outdoors at Sonoma State University.

“I usually wear wedges and I was wearing heels, trying not to sink into the grass when I nearly wobbled over,” she said.

She has had a quirky obsession since she was a youngster — that of looking forward to dental cleaning appointments.

“I’ve always had this weird fascination with teeth,” she said. “When I was little, I’d make a fake retainer out of bubble gum and make my mom look.”

When she had to decide on a senior community project, she gravitated toward that childhood passion. She was volunteering at The Family Support Center in Santa Rosa when inspiration struck.

“I was teaching children about eating healthy foods and brushing habits,” said Madison. “I realized that a lot of the children hadn’t been to the dentist.”

So she organized dentists and their staffs to provide a full day of screening of children who had never been to the dentist or who hadn’t been in a very long time.

“I had been working at my dad’s office, and I had saved money to pay for it. I understood that a child’s visit could cost up to $90,” she said.

She was pleased when her own dentist, Robert Didier, agreed to host a kid’s check-up day for free. A second dentist, Robert Erlach, also helped.

That event took place on February 21 when 19 children received dental screenings, a cleaning and a goodies bag that included a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss.

“The dentists, the hygienists, even the receptionist donated their time,” she said. “And they did it all for free, which is amazing.”

Madison credits her project mentor at the center, Carol Kempton, for helping her stay focused until the day was a reality. “She has an amazing job. Her whole job is helping these kids,” said Madison. “She really supported and encouraged me, too.”

Community service projects for Ursuline seniors are usually tackled by two or more teens. “I decided to go solo to see what it’s like,” she said. “Later in life, I’ll need to be independent, so this was a good experience for me.”

In her junior and senior years Madison traveled to Mexico with her school’s Esperanza International group to build houses for needy families. This spring she was joined on the trip by her mother, who speaks Spanish fluently.

“Sharing that experience with my mother was wonderful,” she said. “We helped each other while we volunteered.”

Her personal heroes include her father for his determination and hard work and her aunt, Margarita Farrell, who has been a mentor for as long as she can remember.

“She was an actress when she was little and she’s a dwarf, just a few inches over 3 feet tall,” said Madison. “She taught me never to give up. Her support has kept me motivated.”

This summer Madison will be working as a server at the Bohemian Grove in Monte Rio, as are many of her classmates. Then she’ll enjoy a vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a family getaway destination since she was in the eighth grade.

— Rayne Wolfe