Good Nick, M.A.D. City

Whether he is fighting for social justice, serving on the Discipline Committee, helping the preps of Cilley Hall acclimate to life at Exeter or rowing on the Squamscott River, four-year senior Nick Madamidola exemplifies the spirit of Exeter. He is admired campus wide for his determination, dedication, empathy and passion.

When he was young, Madamidola lived in England, but his family moved to America to benefit from the educational opportunities the country had to offer. He always planned on applying to private boarding schools and thought Exeter seemed like the best fit for him. Turns out he was right.

Upon his arrival at Exeter, Madamidola quickly established a reputation among his peers as a model Exonian: kind, intelligent, hard working and a great leader, especially in areas of social justice. Yet, according to Madamidola, he felt “knocked off his high horse” when he first came to Exeter. Though he never considered himself cocky, he was surprised and humbled by the variety of talents he found on campus.

“Exeter showed me that there is certainly a wide variety of kids my age who have different skills that I lack,” he said. “I like to watch people, observe their personalities and see their beneficial characteristics. It’s really helpful to try and emulate the things others do well and express them in your own way.”

From the typical challenges of adjusting to a new school to the heightened pressure of a school like Exeter, Madamidola finds himself tested frequently at PEA, and not always doing as well as expected. However, he strives to learn and grow from his mistakes, rather than becoming discouraged.

To Madamidola’s peers, his “never give up” mentality is clear. Senior Chudi Ikpeazu described his determination and constant energy as some of his greatest qualities.

“Watching him from afar, I’ve realized that he doesn’t let things get in his way and he doesn’t set limits for himself,” Ikpeazu said. “He’s had the same energy in him since the time prep year when we walked into Back in Black and were rapping ‘Runaway Love’ together.”

Madamidola has demonstrated this tenacity and determination through his tireless work on the MLK committee. He described it as a tangible way to make a positive impact on campus, and one that emphasizes the importance of the day when the committee’s work culminates in January. “It’s hard to make sure that the day is not just one day, or a blip on the radar that goes away. We have to constantly work throughout the year to keep up discussions and events that are relevant to social justice.”

Upper and fellow board member Jesus Rivera praised Madamidola’s work ethic and passion on the committee. “He’s not shy about what he believes in and cares about. He is always willing to listen and to learn to try to reach some form of compromise. If others on campus were as open to listening and attempting to understand opposing viewpoints, we would all benefit from a more open and caring environment,” Rivera said.

As a member of the Discipline Committee (DC), Madamidola continues to demonstrate his ceaseless compassion and dedication to others. Despite being an emotionally taxing commitment, work in DC has furthered Madamidola’s empathy for the different problems of classmates. He said that the experience gives him a perspective unique to the majority of Exeter students.

“It is interesting because you get to see a side of students you don’t usually see,” Madamidola said. “During a case a student is completely open because they are facing very considerable consequences. You get to see the students as they truly are.”

According to upper DC member Connie Cai, Madamidola’s work on DC also serves as a reminder of how friendly, nonjudgemental and open he is to people. Cai said Madamidola always makes her feel welcomed during the cases. “You want Nick to be at the table,” she said.  “He’s such a genuine, honest person.”

Madamidola’s kindness extends far past the limits of the DC room of Exeter. Madamidola knows how to connect with people and point them in the right direction, while still holding a fun attitude toward everything.

“Whether it was my prep winter math class with him or seeing him on the path, Nick always is the one to say hi first,” she said.

The caring aspect of Madamidola’s personality can also be seen through his work as a proctor in Cilley Hall. Madamidola is known as one of the friendliest proctors by the preps in his dorm. While he emphasizes the importance of rules and organization, he always finds time to have fun and teach the new students a sense of community.

Prep Will Kalikman described one typical Madamidola moment, when he turned a simple activity into a funny scene.

“On one of the first days there were two wasps in his room,” Kalikman said. “He was so scared that he spent twenty minutes trying to build up courage to kill the wasps. Finally, he picks up his shoes and makes this whole scene about killing it before running off. It was such a funny moment and really made me excited for the upcoming year.”

Like the preps of Cilley, senior Michaela Streep described Madamidola as an embodiment of everything she loves in a person. “He works hard as a student and an athlete, and he’s so smart and insightful. He has a great sense of humor and an endless energy that always lifts me up. He’s a great friend, [and] he never fails to bring a smile to my face.”

In light of  Madamidola’s many admirable qualities, perhaps the most impressive is his humility. “He has so many things going for him, which makes it easy to be arrogant, but he is so far from that,” Streep continued. “He never has been and never will be. He’s just such a well rounded person. In my eyes, Nick has it all and deserves all of the good things that he will get in life.”