Madeleine
“A woman is a peacemaker & keeper; she is a boss, leader, superhero, and so much more.”
Madeleine is creative, welcoming, reliable and kind; she is an old soul, but radiates a youthful energy. She goes above and beyond to make others feel comfortable and is passionate about a multitude of causes and social justice initiatives, making her a great ally and friend. Meet Madeleine. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
M: Hi! I'm Madeleine Tommins. I'm tempted to introduce myself by saying what I do, but I'm trying to move away from that. Instead, I'll start with who I am: I am a woman in her mid-20s (how did I get here so soon?), I am kind, compassionate, smart, silly, and zealous. I am also a believer, a leader, a teacher, a sister, a daughter, and a friend.
Ok, now for what I do: I am a professional actor/choreographer. This means that I often work at least one additional job outside of my field, which is often referred to as a 'support job' or, my favorite term, a 'Muggle job.' The seemingly constant job shuffle keeps life exciting.
K: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
M: Wow, I love this question. My favorite thing about myself is that I look for ways to help others.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
M: Ooo yes. When I was a sophomore in college, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. At the time, I was the only person I knew who had been diagnosed with this disorder (or anything like it). If only for a few months, I thought my life had fallen apart. With God's help, along with the help of my family members and close friends, I picked up the pieces. Without this experience, I never would have transferred schools, and I never would have pursued an acting career — which has always been my dream. I am so relieved that with treatment, I'm able to live a happy & healthy life in spite of the diagnosis and chase my dreams. As cliché as it may sound, everything really does happen for a reason. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
M: A few things come to mind:
1) Don’t sweat the small stuff.
2) Have more faith, and have more fun.
3) You are braver and more powerful than you know.
4) You bring a lot to the table.
5) You don’t need to compare yourself to others, and better yet, you shouldn’t.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
M: 1) To be a woman is to be empowered!
2) Being a woman means being fierce and strong; a woman is a peacemaker & keeper; she is a boss, leader, superhero, and so much more.
3) Being a woman means that I can wake up before everyone else in the house to work out, can run my own company by day, be a devoted mother* by late afternoon, enjoy a glass of wine with my partner* in the evening, eat 3+ balanced meals, have ‘me time’ before dark, finish the laundry by bedtime, get the recommended amount of sleep, rinse, and repeat. In heels if I feel like it. Women are amazing.
*to clarify, I mean in the future
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
M: Michelle Obama. Michelle, thank you for bringing about the change you wish to see in the world. You are genuine, humble, truthful, driven, and patient. The world needs more leaders like you.