By Maddy Isbell ‘22

Ashley, as a freshman from Rio Grande Valley, felt overwhelmed in her classes, and had doubts of her capabilities and intelligence here at TAMU. She was defeated, and wondered if she had chosen the right school for herself. She was a first generation student, so receiving a degree from a university as large and prestigious as Texas A&M was intimidating and seemed far from her reach. Her grandparents didn’t have the opportunity to continue their education past middle school, which made higher education an opportunity to make her family proud. 

Six years later, Ashley is now graduated with her bachelors degree in communication, and employed by A&M in the Counseling and Psychological Services department (CAPS). After watching her thrive in Aggieland, as both a student and an employee, Ashley’s family is more than proud of what she has achieved. Furthering her education, she is now working toward her masters degree at Sam Houston State University in the Clinical Mental Health Program, and she wont stop there. She plans to obtain a doctoral degree and become a professional counselor. 

Ashley expresses that her dad was a voice of encouragement during her struggles as a first year student. “I remember having a conversation with my dad and he helped me realize that I rightly earned my spot to attend TAMU and that I was entirely capable of completing my degree,” Ashley said. “I'll always remember that moment because I realized that I was capable of overcoming adversity and achieving my academic goals.”

Inspired by this experience, and her dad, Ashley found a burning passion for helping students, specifically those in need of mental health assistance. At CAPS, she assists with scheduling, informing students of services, planning the “Not Another Aggie” suicide prevention walk, training Aggies Reaching Aggies volunteers, and serving on the CAPS Social Justice Comittee.  

“I decided to work for the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University because I wanted to interact with students on a daily basis,” Ashley said.  “It brings me joy to actively engage with students and partake in their academic journey - even if it is only a minor interaction throughout their academic career. “

Being a full time employee and graduate student, Ashley faces the struggles of time management and balancing work and school. She spends late nights writing essays, reading, and completing assignments before heading to work the next morning. Finding excitement in the fact that today’s hard work is the cornerstone for her dream job as a mental health professional, Ashley continues to give it her all and stay on the course. Her fire for counseling is fueled by her relatability to students and what they may be experiencing during their time at large scale university. Her goal: to help students and change the stigma associated with mental health. She is a living representation to students that they can overcome self-doubt and reach their academic and professional goals. 

“Talking openly about mental health and sharing personal experiences with other individuals can have a positive impact by making mental health concerns seem real and relatable,” Ashley said.  “Life can be difficult at times and I think that it is important to recognize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a symbol of strength because it is acknowledging and accepting our personal limitations with the intent of pursuing a change in our lives.”

When not working at CAPS, you could probably find Ashley exploring National Parks and traveling to different hiking spots across the country. 

In the five years that she has been a part of CAPS, Ashley has felt welcomed and appreciated. “My favorite thing about my job are my fellow coworkers,” Ashley said.  “I have, not only, built professional relationships with colleagues, but I have created friendships that exist outside of the workspace. I'm thankful that I work in a setting where I feel valued.”