How do you like me now, now that I'm on my way?

First and absolutely foremost, I wanted to apologize for taking so long to post another article. I have been INSANELY busy lately and haven't had a spare minute to sit down with my computer. Over the past couple months, I transitioned back up north where I live for the winter months. So much has been happening, it has been such a whirlwind. First, I started an internship at a local newspaper as a journalist. I also started CNA classes, booked 3 speaking engagements, was named the Assistant to the Assistant of the Dean of my local college and have interviewed two Wi Senators. Life has truly been crazy but an absolute blessing!

Any who, with everything that has been happening in my life lately, I really got thinking about how life wasn't always this great. I wasn't always this happy, I didn't always have so many people surrounding me. In fact, I used to stand alone in the corner.. every. single. day. I used to be so alone and so depressed that my family was incredibly worried. In middle school, I was alone. I mean, no friends at all. At lunch, I would eat alone. At recess, I would walk to the corner of the building and face the wall, just staring at the brick wall pretending no one saw me and I couldn't see them. When my parents caught wind of what was happening, they immediately put work on hold to take "shifts" to come have lunch with me to make sure I wasn't alone every day. Despite the, ever so tremendous efforts by my parents, I still just wasn't happy. Kids were so mean back then, middle school was just a nightmare. Never, I mean NEVER in a million years did I think I'd ever end up doing something great, where even the most popular kids were congratulating and looking up to you. Turns out what people say is true, anything is possible. 

After middle school I was quite worried about what high school might bring. To my surprise, it wasn't as bad as middle school was. The kids became nicer, I made several friends, and I finally saw some happier days. When high school came to an end, I had no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I learned about a program up north where I could take some college classes and from there I met some amazing people who have really built the foundation for all of my successes there after. 

I don't mean to talk everyone's ears out about every step of my journey but, I did have a point to make. As I reminisced on the (not so great) days of middle school and compared them to where I am now, I couldn't help but think of Toby Keith's, "How do you like me now?". Anything truly is possible. You might be in a place right now where no one is believing in you, where you feel absolutely alone. But, that doesn't matter. Believe in yourselves and prove to all those who didn't think you could, that YOU CAN. You are capable of more than what others think and more than what you think. And when you finally get where you're going, it's okay to stand up proud, show off your biggest smile and ask them, HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW? (In your most humble voice, of course)

Until next time
Xo, Ashley