It would seem someone who moved around the country with her military family would be able to make friends easily.
Not Ashley Theriot.
“I was so jealous of my younger brother,” said the sophomore early childhood education major at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia. “Whenever we moved to a new place, he always made friends on the very first day.”
Ashley was born in Washington, but has lived in Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Louisiana. Her father, Wayne, is in the Air Force.
“I liked the traveling when I was younger,” she said. “I didn’t like it as much as I got older. I didn’t want to leave the friends I had made.”
Her shyness followed her all the way to college.
“I was voted shyest member of Mule.org my freshman year,” Ashley said.
Since that time, Ashley has become more outgoing and involved in activities on the University campus.
“It is not hard to get involved,” explained Ashley. “As a member of Mule.org, all of the students live together, take classes together, and travel together. We have built really close relationships very quickly.”
In the future, she hopes to have a great relationship with the students she teaches. At first, Ashley originally wanted to teach kindergarten, but changed her mind.
“I decided I wanted to teach second grade,” she said. “I observed an amazing teacher, and I want to be just like her.”
Ashley discovered her fondness of children when she worked at a daycare.
“I fell in love with the kids,” she said. “I thought teaching would be a good way to impact the world.”
Maybe Ashley can help students by helping them overcome their shyness the same way she did.
