Madison Phillips Survived and Thrived Despite Setbacks
As a young boy, Madison Phillips never quite understood what it was to live in a normal home. He and his four siblings grew up in an environment of chaos and confusion.
Both parents were imprisoned for drug usage and dealing. Although their mother did her best, she couldn’t keep the family together. With the parents incarcerated, Madison and his siblings were placed into their relative’s homes.
“My siblings and I got separated at that time,” Madison explains. My brother and I moved in with relatives and my brothers moved in with their father. It was hard being separated but we were told us it would be better for us. I was 5 years old at the time.”
From Bad to Worse
Madison shares, “I was hopeful when I moved in with my relatives. Unfortunately, it was a very difficult time for me and I wanted out.”
Over the next few years, Madison was in and out of 7 different foster homes. In each of his circumstances, he hoped that he would find the perfect home.
As he was nearing the end of his elementary years, his mom was released from prison and petitioned to regain custody. With Madison rejoining his mom and the promise of a new life in Birmingham, Al, Madison was optimistic.
A Dangerous Playground – Education Delayed
The move to Alabama proved to be another disappointment. As Madison worked to try to fit into the new school, pressures mounted for him to join one of the youth gangs that were forming at the elementary school.
While specific growth rate data for elementary school gangs is not well-documented, available information suggests that gangs are being recruited at younger ages, and this trend is contributing to an overall rise in juvenile crime. That was the case with Madison’s school. And he didn’t want to have any part of it.
“I was now about 11 and found myself getting into fights all the time,” he explained. “I didn’t want to join any of the gangs, and I had to defend myself from the peer pressures. I became pretty good at fighting. That also meant I kept getting expelled and ultimately was home schooled for a year.”
As Madison prepared to enter the 7th grade he and his mom moved once again.
“I was now moving into 7th grade in a new school, in a new white community in a new town. I felt out of place in my new home since I was one of the few black students in the school. I was scared and lonely. On top of that, I couldn’t read, spell or understand basic math,” he explained.
The statistics for the educational performance of foster children are disheartening. Foster children lag well behind the general student population in every measure. In some cases, they perform at a level only 15 – 20% of non- foster children when tested. These children move into their formative years with limited capacity to learn and grow into productive adults.
Madison seemingly was becoming another disappointing statistic.
A Caring Teacher Instills Confidence, Character and Courage
As Madison was dealing with the changes in a new community, school and the profound struggle of his educational level, he found unexpected encouragement from his 7th grade teacher. His teacher began pouring attention and support into the young man and as she did, Madison’s confidence grew.
“For the first time in my life, my teachers began to convince me that I was worthy, and my life was full of potential. My school principal encouraged me to play football, and in so doing helped me focus on the better grades I needed to stay on the team, Madison said.
“It’s as if he knew that if I had something to focus on, and something I could excel in, my self-confidence would grow. He was right. This was a turning point in my life.”
As Madison grew in his love of football, so did his performance at school. Soon after, his collection of friends grew as well.
His young life was improving.
Deadly Tornado Destroys His Family
Now in the 9th grade, Madison was beginning to feel confident in his own skin. His football skills were growing. He was making friends. School, along with his grades had improved. But fate was rearing its head once again in Madison’s young life.
They called it the Tuscaloosa Tornado. On April 27, 2011, it became one of the deadliest tornados to hit Alabama. It killed over 250 people…and most of Madison’s family.
“The tornado came right through the house,” Madison explained. “I lost my mom and my siblings. I was also severely injured and was hospitalized. At 16 years of age, I had to learn to walk again. I thought to myself, there goes my football and my future.”
Finally, the Stable Family Influence.
With his parents deceased, Madison’s older brother took custody of him. His brother and sister-in-law began to offer Madison the security and consistency he missed for so many years. Now, he was returning to his original birthplace years older and wiser, but still a young man with the insecurities of the typical 16-year-old.
“I felt like I was a different person when I came back home. I had been through so much, but I had also grown up a lot,” he said. “I still had a lot of growing to do. I just hoped I could keep maturing and return my health to where it was before the tornado.”
The next few years were productive for Madison. Under his brother’s care, Madison’s grades improved in school. His health returned and he began to play football once again. Now ready to graduate high school he became smitten with a young lady, got married and started a family shortly thereafter. He then joined the military, which helped to shape his future and his focus.
Coming Full Circle to Build a Future of Possibilities
“After I left the military, I wanted to attend college. I was able to attend a junior college for my associate’s degree and then I continued to university to earn my bachelor’s degree,” Madison explained. “Despite all the challenges I faced growing up, my life has been richly blessed. I just want to bless others now.”
Today, Madison has been active in the education and instruction to young people. As a District Supervisor in the Boy Scouts, he has helped youth learn and grow through powerful life lessons. And recently, Madison has founded a new non-profit organization called ATGO (Against the Given Odds) with a charter to help young adults aged 5 – 24 with educational programs and life skill-building to help them overcome difficult circumstances.
He has also recently self-published a book titled 7 Day Power Habits, Balancing Faith, Family and Business.
“As I look back through this journey, I realized that people can accomplish great things if they never give up, continue to grow as a person and surround themselves with people in their life that believe in them.”
Thank you, Madison for reminding us that the road might be filled with challenges, but that alone is not a reason to give up.
Life has a way of surprising us with many gifts…even in the midst of the adversity.