(2001- )
Hi, my name is Ashley! I am 20 years old and was born and raised in Chespeake, Virginia. I attended all of grade school in Chesapeake and graduated from Grassfield Highschool in 2020. I live with my mom, dad and my three boston terriers (Baxter, Buster, and Brandy). I also have one older sister, named Kristin who I admire greatly for her dedication and intelligence throughout her life. I work as a server in my free time, hang out with friends, read, and spend time with family. I love going on adventures: hiking, kayaking, running, biking, etc.
I decided I wanted to become a teacher in Highschool, which is where I found my passion for children. Not only to be able to give kids a good education but to be there for them influenced me to become a teacher. I had the opportunity to complete a program called Teachers For Tomorrow in high school and that is really what made my decision. I loved being in the classroom with my students and was even able to teach them a lesson that I created!
What do I know?
That I absolutely love and adore children. I may get frustrated but I could never physically get made at them. I am easy to get along with but assertive when need be. I am a workaholic and a perfectionist and always put my all to make everything just right. As a future teacher, I will always help my peers when needed and am a very caring person, so I enjoy being there for the others around me. I have worked at a few Elementary schools and as a mentor. I always love to see a sense of motivation in my students, while believing in them, so they can hopefully believe in themselves, especially when no one else does. I believe a sense of self-motivation is one of the keys to doing well in school. I am very accepting and can teach the others around me not to judge someone based on how they look or act. To personally get to know their students or classmates before making any negative remarks about them.
My family is really important to me and is one of the reasons I am not living on campus. It is one of the most important aspects of life. I feel they are people that will never hold a grudge on my past and that I can come to with anything. I grew up going to eat and play board games with my grandparents most Sundays and am eternally grateful that it shaped the way I am today. This is a picture of me and my sister at one of those family dinners.
I graduated from Grassfield Highschool and started attending Radford University. I transferred to Old Dominion University in the Spring of 2022! I went to Radford in hopes of earning an Elementary Education major but realized the environment was not for me and decided to transfer here. Old Dominion feels like a better fit and have been enjoying my time here so far! I am commuting from Chesapeake, Virginia in hopes of saving money and being around my family more.
What do I have to Learn?
As a future teacher, I have a lot to learn. I struggle with organization and classroom management and find this the most challenging to execute in the classroom. I am working on improving in these areas today with the help of my sister who is a very organized person, but am still not where I want to be. I am fascinated by students' differences whether that be culturally, financially, or emotionally and would love to know more regarding this topic. I hope to learn more when I am able to have hands-on experience in a classroom. I am very excited to practice in a real world setting soon and am also excited to learn more about the educational field.
I will be a fun but firm teacher and care about my students on a deep level. I would love them to be comfortable enough to come to me with anything, honestly would mean the world. The best part about teaching is seeing them focused and enjoying the lessons you teach. I love when kids look forward to coming to school, which is why I want to teach them in a fun and enjoyable way but also in a firm way, so they won't think I am just their friend and can walk all over me. I will always strive to become a better educator. I would love group desks instead of individuals to encourage collaboration and communication. I want to incorporate hands-on material into my lessons and have creative projects that can be displayed for people to see. Social Reconstructivism is the educational philosophy that most fits my teaching style the most. A sense of comfortability to talk to their classmates but will listen when I am speaking.
-Hi Ashley, I like how you set up your page, very cheerful! I am glad that you will be a fun teacher that wants to deeply connect with their students. It is a difficult task finding that spot between a close confidant and an authority figure. Best of luck on your career. -Michael Daley
Hey Ashley :) Because we sit together I already knew you went to Grassfield and that you transferred from Radford but I really enjoyed getting to know you a little better through your page. I love that family is really important o you and that it has shaped you into the person you are today. I'm so glad you're liking ODU so far! - Delaney Sheridan
Hey Ashley, it's so cool that you're from Chesapeake and went to Grassfield, I haven't met a lot of people that are from and went to school near where I did. I graduated from Deep Creek. My friend completed the Teacher's for Tomorrow program as well in high school and she enjoyed it a lot. You seem like you will make an amazing teacher! -Lauryn Jones
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