Madison King, a third-year Marketing and Management concentrator, first came to McIntire with powerful momentum earned the hard way: through work, responsibility, and an unshakable belief that education can change someone’s life.
Financially independent since she was 15, Madison is open about what drives her. “My ultimate career goal is to build a stable financial future that keeps me out of poverty,” she says, having lived through some tough times. “My motivation is to reach a place of stability where I can give back to others.”
That insightful clarity has shaped every critical decision she’s made, starting with attending community college. Watching her sister begin at a community college and later graduate from VCU with a business degree showed Madison what was possible.
“Seeing her success showed me that community college could be an affordable path to the same kind of opportunities,” she says. At Central Virginia Community College (CVCC), she worked multiple jobs while loading up on classes, all while exploring what business could look like as a long-term path.
Why Community College Was the Launchpad for Success
Obviously, cost mattered, but confidence mattered more. At CVCC, Madison found opportunities to develop her self-belief through leadership opportunities. Balancing a full credit load with multiple jobs, she also served as Student Government Association President, Student Ambassador, and Chair of the Student Success Committee. “Taking on the roles taught me one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned: Just apply,” she says. “You never know what doors will open unless you put yourself out there.”
That mindset became her “why.” When the Commerce School came into focus during her second semester, Madison aimed high, even while doubting herself. “I wasn’t sure I had what it took to get into McIntire. Still, I decided to go for it,” she says. She took extra prerequisites, mapped out every requirement, and pushed through one more summer semester.
Her acceptance email confirmed what she had been working toward all along. “I cried tears of joy,” she says. “McIntire represented more than just a school; it was my chance to break the cycle of poverty.”
Finding Belonging, Leadership, and Purpose at McIntire
Though the transition wasn’t easy, it remained affirming. During transfer orientation, a fellow student’s words stuck: “We’ve already done the hardest part by getting in. We belong here.” That sense of belonging deepened through McIntire’s case-based group project work and community support. “The reward isn’t about grades anymore,” Madison says. “It’s about actually learning.”
Already making her mark on Grounds, Madison is applying creativity and strategy as Co-Chair of the Marketing Subcommittee for the McIntire Student Engagement and Community Committee. Looking ahead, she hopes to work in marketing for a values-driven retail company, and eventually earn a master’s degree to also teach online for a community college. “The community college system needs a stronger online teaching community,” she says. “I want to give back to the system that helped me start my own education journey.”
Her advice to future transfers? “Be intentional.” Write goals down. Ask questions. Reach out to others, and share your purpose. “Transferring to McIntire taught me that everything I do matters,” Madison insists.
