Ashley’s Story
January 25th 2024
We first met Ashley on a gloomy, rainy, January day. Her radiant smile lit up the room as she walked through the door of Armour Dance Theatre. She had taken two buses and a train ride to reach us. Her goal was to pursue her passion for ballet.
At 15 years old, Ashley’s determination was inspiring. It’s unusual to begin ballet as a teen, but she showed up at the studio ready and eager to train alongside 8-year-old girls. She brought a great attitude, dedication and immense positivity to every class as she took her place at the barre.
In daily chats with her, we quickly realized she had a remarkable talent for math and science. Writing, however, was a challenge. It was a skill she would need to improve in order to pursue her dream of attending college. To complicate matters, Ashley’s single mother worked two jobs and had no spare resources. College seemed unattainable. No one in her family had ever pursued higher education.
That’s when we introduced Ashley to Maggie, our college mentor. Together, they embarked on a journey to refine Ashley’s writing skills. With Maggie’s guidance, Ashley explored a wealth of literature, broadening her horizons. Together, they also identified various colleges that would be a good fit and applied for scholarships. All the hard work paid off when Ashley received full scholarships from several prestigious universities. After much consideration, she decided to attend an Ivy League university to pursue a degree in engineering on a full scholarship.
It seemed like the happy ending to her story, but there were still obstacles in her path. The financial burden of transportation and move-in costs threatened to derail Ashley’s plans for her future. She was so close, but her family simply couldn’t come up with the money needed to get her physically to school and settled in her dorm. Taking time from work to travel with Ashley was not an option for her mother, who couldn’t risk getting fired. Besides, her mother couldn’t afford to go unpaid for those days.
Maggie stepped in at the last moment and took Ashley to school to start her freshman year. Armour Dance Theatre covered all of the travel and set-up expenses. We also provided warm clothing to get her through the Northeast winters and covered the cost of plane fare so Ashley could return home for the holidays. Removing those barriers was the support and solid start she needed.
Ashley graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. She currently is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing her Ph.D. in immunology and philosophy. Though far from over, her story reminds us how easily even the brightest aspirations can be dimmed by unexpected bumps in the road. Removing those bumps or barriers can clear the path for more stars like Ashley.
Quote from Ashley: “My family’s legacy of poverty ends with me. I am the first of my siblings to attend college. The challenges I have faced thus far have only made me more determined to achieve a superior education. I know that one day, when I am a successful doctor or engineer, I will be able to help another student struggling financially to attend college.”
