Speaker: Madeleine Conerly
What does receiving Spirit of State mean to you?
Madeleine Conerly: Spirit of state means holding yourself accountable to high standards of excellence, integrity, service and kindness. This can be seen in some of our traditions such as cowbell ringing at sporting events or the Hail State chant. Both of these foster a strong sense of community and belonging no matter where you are, whether you're walking around Starkville or running into a fellow bulldog in another country. The spirit of State takes root when you accept your place into the student body. And if you embrace it, it will give you positive direction for the rest of your life.
What has been your most rewarding experience at MSU?
Madeleine Conerly: Creating the human anatomy supplemental instruction track has been my most rewarding experience. My goal was to inspire students to love anatomy as much as I do. You could even say I have a big heart for human anatomy. But one semester, it was particularly difficult when circumstances necessitated the course be offered online. This made an in-person si for the class more vital and more demanding. There were many daunting moments but students were counting on me and I don't want to disappoint anyone including myself. And I'm really glad that I persevered because witnessing a student finally grasp a concept they've been struggling with and knowing you played even a small part in their success is incredibly fulfilling.
In what ways can you continue to embody the Spirit of State?
Madeleine Conerly: Even when I graduate and I'm not on Stark's campus, it doesn't mean I'll stop being a bulldog or having the spirit of state. It stays with you. Just like when you step foot on this campus, you become part of the bulldog family. I will continue to share that with others both in the person I've become by being an MS U student. But also outwardly when I show pride in where I've come from, I'll also be an advocate for the school in spreading the message of the great education I was able to get here, the organizations I've had the opportunity to grow leadership in opportunities for getting involved in research and giving back to the community. State has numerous ways of getting involved and you're surrounded by a large network of people ready to invest in you and help you become the best version of yourself. State has really instilled so many values in me, like hard work of persistence of humility and giving back to others of helping the MS U family. And I hope to bring these same values to the way I will serve others as a future physician. I wanna continue serving people just the way state has served me by providing access to good health care, practicing medicine in an ethical way, by being a listening ear and by being kind and empathetic.
