Down, But Not Out – Ashley’s Story of Triumph
Ashley is the first one to admit that she never thought school was very important. She dropped out of high school and her life revolved around parties and drugs. However, everything changed when she became pregnant with her daughter.
In 2014, Ashley came to Goodwill for help and enrolled in the Access Center Adult High School in partnership with Forsyth Technical Community College. She was doing well with her classes until an abusive relationship ended her plans to get her high school diploma and nearly ended her life.
Ashley’s life was torn apart, and she wound up losing her two children for three years.
Health problems also knocked her down, but not out; she survived a heart attack, a diabetic coma and was in dialysis for kidney failure.
Ashley had a lot of time to think about her future and she decided she wanted to finish the two courses that stood between her and her high school diploma.
When she came back to the Access Center in 2019 to do just that, she now had the support of her husband and family. Her husband told her, “You can’t quit. You’ve come so far.”
She is grateful to the staff at the Access Center for the constant encouragement they have provided.
Ashley said that her oldest child is not too fond of school and it was important that she could be a good example for her daughter. In September of 2019, Ashley received her high school diploma.
Ashley is now pursuing a career related to the medical field, with a specific interest in Bio Tech and Crime Scene Investigation.
Ashley has a very busy schedule which includes taking care of her two daughters, her two step-children, plus two nephews. She continues to take kidney dialysis three days a week for four hours at a time, and her rare blood type has made it difficult for her to find a donor.
Through it all, Ashley remains positive and hopeful. As she said, “One voice can change a thousand things, as long as you keep your mind clear.”
Story made possible by Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina