Leadership is often associated with age or experience, but Chandler High School sophomore Maddie Herring believes it is defined by something much simpler: showing up for others.
Herring competes in fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball and basketball, but some of her proudest moments have come away from the scoreboard. During a softball camp following her freshman season, a sixth-grade player opened up to her about struggling with performance anxiety. Herring immediately recognized herself in the younger athlete and shared the same encouragement that had once helped her.
“It’s never as bad as it is in your head,” Herring said. “As long as your heart’s still beating, your lungs still have air in them, and the sun still comes up the next day, then it’ll be just fine.”
For Herring, that conversation remains one of her most meaningful accomplishments because it reminded her that athletes can make an impact simply by being willing to encourage someone else.
Softball has also shaped her own outlook. The biggest lesson she has learned is that perfection is impossible, and accepting that truth has made her stronger both as a competitor and as a person.
In the classroom, Herring credits Mrs. Pamela Anderson with leaving the greatest impression on her education by encouraging her to speak her mind and embrace creativity without limits.
Among her teammates, Sophia Flow stands out as someone she deeply admires. Although Flow is younger than many of her classmates because she advanced academically, Herring said her positivity and work ethic never change regardless of the situation.
Away from athletics, Herring has found another passion through performing arts. After a hip injury ended her competitive dance career, she joined Chandler’s drama program and has appeared in multiple productions. She also spent several years helping her family raise money for the town museum by operating a community haunted house, combining creativity with service.
Herring appreciates the close-knit nature of Chandler, where familiar faces and friendly greetings are part of everyday life. That sense of community has helped shape the person she is becoming.
The advice that guides her most is simple: “Let go and let God.” She believes not everything can be controlled, but faith provides peace through life’s uncertainties.
Herring is equally grateful for those who have invested in her journey, including her father, pitching coaches Steve and Karen Gualt, her grandfather “Pops,” and her teammates. Together, they have taught her that success is never achieved alone.
As she continues her high school career, Herring hopes people remember one lesson above all else: leadership is never determined by grade level. It is earned through the way a person serves, encourages and fights for the people around them.
