Madi Sawyer's Journey from Dance Marathon to Child Life Specialist

For more than three decades, Dance Marathon at Florida State University has not only changed the lives of children and families but has also shaped the futures of participants. DM at FSU alumna Madi Sawyer, a former Morale Chair and current Child Life Specialist, remains a concrete example of this, as DM led her to discover her career. Additionally, Year 31 Executive Director Grace Massari served on the Year 30 Executive Board alongside Madi and emphasizes that there are numerous ways that DM can impact students long after graduation.

Before becoming deeply involved, Madi's introduction to Dance Marathon looked a lot like many other students' experiences. She first heard about DM when her sister joined as a dancer and expressed that the more she learned about DM and saw her sister fall in love with the organization, she knew that she wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself in that way. Through joining the Inspiring New Leader program, Madi found her love for fundraising and the Morale team.

After beginning her time in DM as an INL, Madi knew that she wanted to do more and give more with her time in Dance Marathon. She stated, “I wanted to help motivate captains, coordinators, delegates, and dancers to find their why and fall in love with the organization the way I did. Serving as a Morale Coordinator and the Year 30 Morale Chair gave me some of my best college memories and the opportunity to lead a team of crazy, fun people that taught me so much about myself.”

The relationships Madi built through Dance Marathon became one of the most meaningful parts of her experience. Her close friend Grace Massari explained that the pair became friends while serving together on the Executive Board for DM at FSU during Year 30. Madi was the Morale Chair at the time, and Grace was the Leadership Chair under the Dancer Relations Branch. Grace said, “One thing people may not immediately see about Madi is just how deeply she cares about every person she meets. It's obvious that she's kind and hardworking, but what stands out most is her ability to form genuine connections with others. Whether she had known someone for years or had just met them, she made people feel important and cared for. She wasn't just leading a team; she was building relationships. She had a unique ability to connect with people on a personal level, which inspired others and helped create a sense of community wherever she went.”

Grace also notes that both led teams of more than 100 people and quickly bonded over the challenges, responsibilities, and excitement that came with those roles. She believes that Dance Marathon played a huge role in their friendship because it gave them a shared purpose.

Beyond the friendships and leadership experiences she gained, Dance Marathon also helped shape Madi's future career path. When asked about her career path and how Dance Marathon aided her in her choice to pursue it, Madi explained, “I always wanted to go into healthcare and was always passionate about being the person to help families through the hardest moments of their lives. After I joined Dance Marathon, I heard our ambassadors talking about how much they depended on Child Life and knew that was what I was meant to do. I started taking my Child Life classes and never looked back!”

While her experience in Dance Marathon was incredibly rewarding, it also came with challenges. Madi noted, “The hardest part about being Morale Chair was honestly trying to keep my energy as high as possible for as long as possible. There were times I truly felt myself at 10%, but leaning on my team and the executive board reminded me that we were all tired, but kiddos in hospitals are WAY more tired from being poked all day, woken up all night, and being away from their normal lives. Once you look at things from the perspective of a patient at Shands, your whole passion for DM changes.”

The lessons Madi learned through Dance Marathon have continued to influence her long after graduation. Dance Marathon has allowed Madi and many other participants to experience meaningful connections, remain empathetic toward the experiences of miracle children and families, and gain leadership skills that will last well beyond their time at FSU. Madi pointed out, “The biggest similarity between being Morale Chair and a Child Life Specialist is my ability to help someone, whether a patient or a dancer, persevere when things seem hard. I often help my patients shift their thinking from ‘I can’t do it’ to ‘this is tough, but I can do hard things.’ My patients and my former Morale team constantly inspire me to be the motivation that the person on my right needs to keep going.”

Looking back, Dance Marathon played a significant role in helping Madi discover and pursue her passion for Child Life. Grace recalled, “I remember [Madi] telling me early on during our year together that becoming a Child Life Specialist was her dream. Even then, I knew it was the perfect career for her because of her compassion, empathy, and genuine love for helping children and families.”

Not only did Madi achieve her goal of pursuing a career as a Child Life Specialist, but she also used those same qualities to make a lasting impact within Dance Marathon at FSU. Her journey serves as a reminder that the impact of Dance Marathon extends far beyond a student's time in college, shaping future leaders, careers, and lifelong connections.

Written By: Brianna Christensen