Student Stories

People find their calling through many avenues. For some it’s by coincidence, and for some they feel it was ingrained in them. For Laurel Springs’ student Madeline (Maddy) Duffy, her love for animals developed into a passion for giving to those in need.

After discovering a local animal shelter was in dire need of blankets and towels, Maddy began collecting donations. From passing out local flyers, Maddy was able to fill an entire box that she left on her doorstep. Maddy explains, “By this time, my passion for animals and desire to make a difference in their lives was exceeding my expectations. I knew that I had to create change, even if it meant simply improving the day of one animal.” This led to the creation of her charity, Blankets For Friends, where she began collecting much more than just blankets and towels.

Through donation drives and contacting pet supply companies, Maddy began receiving multiple shipments of donations on a daily basis. At this point, Maddy was receiving recognition from local newspapers, magazines, websites and social media outlets. Through these accomplishments, Maddy realized she wanted to pursue a career with animals as a veterinarian.

Oftentimes, it is through our struggles that we find our true strengths. For Maddy, this is certainly the case. Several years ago, her parents’ business was destroyed in a fire where they lost everything. Maddy couldn’t stand to see her parents struggle, and knew she could find a way to help. This drove her to discover couponing. Maddy started by clipping newspaper coupons and printable coupons, and matched them with sales in the weekly flyer. She couldn’t believe this simple task allowed her to take a grocery store total from $50 to $5, and she was hooked.

Maddy quickly realized that through couponing, she would be able to help not only her family, but others who were struggling as well. Maddy explains, “Through this, the skill and passion that grew with couponing, I always said ‘wow, it would be amazing if I could spread couponing and help other people see how much couponing can make a difference.’” Since then, Maddy’s passion for helping others has led to the launch of her own website, GrowingUpOnCoupons.com. Maddy has helped her family save tens of thousands of dollars through couponing along with donating to local soup kitchens, food banks, and of course, animal shelters.

Now in her senior year at Laurel Springs School, Maddy plans to attend a prestigious university majoring in biology that will allow her to move on to veterinary school. The flexibility and support that Maddy has received at Laurel Springs has allowed her to turn her dreams into a reality:

“Even during my family’s financial struggle, Laurel Springs has been that medium for my academics, letting me succeed in this arena in spite of everything else going on at home. Overall, Laurel Springs has given me that attitude to keep on pushing, pursue my passions, think outside of the box, and move beyond society standards. I’ve become my own person, delved deeper into what I believed, judgment-free, and have knocked down all boundaries, limits, and exceptions.”