Huguenot High School graduate, there Ashley Short says her senior year was hard but she enjoyed the experience. Having to apply to colleges and scholarships were new challenges along with her usual extracurricular activities and the senior course load but she made it through.

Though she had new responsibilities and tasks, symptoms Short finished her senior year with a 3.45 GPA and graduated 13th in her class overall. While at Huguenot High, Short was extremely involved in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). She was previously the secretary her junior year but served as president during her senior year.

Short says before she became involved in FBLA, the club lacked initiative in its activities and had no real leadership. After joining, Short took the time to push members, and herself, to participate in state and regional competitions as well as fundraisers.

During Short’s senior year, she was recognized as FBLA Student of the Year for her leadership and heavy involvement within the organization. “I didn’t apply to this (award). I didn’t even know I was going to get it until they had awards day,” Short said. “I guess they chose me because I was very focused and motivated with the group. I was very dedicated to them and very adamant about doing stuff around school.”

Outside of school Short has been in several leadership positions. She volunteered as a daycare assistant, a mentor, and counselor in training for summer camp.

“I believe that when you are growing and trying to accomplish your goals you should always involve the people around you and the people who’ve helped you, the people in your neighborhood and community,” Short said. “Because in the end, when you become successful and you make it you should always try and help them so that they can be successful too.”

Short has a strong passion to work in her community and give back what she has gotten from it. She says she would like to come back after she has finished with school and has her masters. She plans on helping to enhance her hometown through social work and community service to give back.

“Ashley is a true ‘cultural creative’, integrating within herself a composite of characteristics that tend toward global concerns: social justice, ecology, and good government,” Vincent Simone, teacher said. “She is a grounded, authentic, and spiritual individual who has eschewed the petty preoccupations of so many teenagers.”

Short plans on attending James Madison University this fall, majoring in English. Though she’s not exactly sure what she wants to do with her English degree once she obtains it, she is sure she wants to write since it is her passion, but she is also thinking about going to law school.

“If I go to law school it’s going to be surrounded by (English). I’m not sure yet,” Short said. “I know my main thing is writing and anything that has to do with media or journalism.”