“I believe that if I didn’t come to Madison, my life would be completely different,” said Madison High School senior Shepherd Smith. “This program has changed my life.”
Smith is part of Madison’s Agriscience Magnet Program (AMP).
“Growing up, I never was around animals,” said Smith. “Growing up in such an urban environment, we really aren’t exposed to that as much.”
He knows his way around animals now.
The knowledge he’s learned over the past four years is evident as he walks through the barns on the AMP campus and talks about the different steers, rabbits, chickens and lambs.
“Probably my fondest memories here at Madison are showing lambs the past four years,” said Smith. “I’ve learned a lot of leadership skills, a lot of communication skills, and I have found job opportunities.”
Smith attended Castle Hills Elementary School, Eisenhower Middle School, and was on track to go to Churchill, before his mother took him to an NEISD Magnet Program Showcase that changed his trajectory.
“I went to check it out and decided to pack up my bags and head to Madison,” said Smith.
Along with learning about animals, Smith also had the opportunity to take game warden courses.
And that was it; he knew what he was going to do after AMP.
“I am going to major in Wildlife and Fishery Sciences at Texas A&M,” said Smith. “Then, I want to become a Texas game warden.”
Tyler Price is one of Smith’s teachers at AMP.
“He’s had such a big impact on me,” said Smith. “I can honestly say I wouldn’t be here without him.”
The feelings appear to be mutual.
“Shepherd is the type of student all teachers dream of having in their classrooms and in their extracurriculars,” said Price. “From a teacher standpoint, Shepherd has challenged me to be the best I can be and to do all that I can to make sure his experience in this program is all that it can be. I will forever be thankful for Shepherd pushing me to be my best, not allowing me to settle for mediocrity, challenging me always to remember the ‘why’ of this job. He will be deeply missed; however, I know his future is so bright.”
Congratulations, Shepherd and the rest of Madison’s 2021 graduates.
