Posted by Ashley
My first year of college is almost over. WOOT! It still feels like I have a while 'til I get to go home, but really I leave in three days. It is becoming really depressing in my dorm. We've been packing and taking down all of our pictures and posters. Our walls are bare and ugly. I am excited to go on my Creamery shopping spree to spend all the money that I have left on my meal plan card. I am planning on stocking up on things for next year like laundry detergent and toothpaste. I just wish Saturday would get here so I can be with my family at home.
Reading days kill me because I spend so much time studying for one class that I just want to get the final over with. I am very lucky to have only three finals to take during finals week. My plan is to take two on Friday. The other one is an online final, so I will take that on Monday when I am back home in Washington. Saturday will be spent packing and cleaning and saying goodbye.
This year has been a great experience. It was hard at times adjusting to living on my own with new people, but overall it was great. I have learned a lot about myself while being here and I have grown so much (ha ha, not in height). I know that BYU is the school for me and feel very blessed to have been accepted to this wonderful university.
Showing posts with label Ashley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ashley. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Sixth Graders, YIKES!!!
Posted by Ashley
Yesterday, for my physical science class, I had the opportunity to go to an elementary school and teach about the solar system. My physical science class is for those going into elementary education. This whole semester we have been preparing lessons to teach to students at Farrer Elementary. It was almost like a science fair. The elementary students came in and went around to each of the stations set up by us college students. My lab peers and I were the lucky ones to teach the sixth graders—the kids who think they are all that because they are the oldest. We were not too thrilled. The topics we were assigned were pretty basic; I was given the topic of the relative position and movement of the earth, moon, and sun. Most sixth graders already know this, so it was interesting trying to teach them. It was a really good experience, though, to be able to go into an elementary school and have that experience.
I also volunteer for Tutor Outreach to Provo Schools (TOPS); I go to Wasatch Elementary every Friday and help with math time in a fifth-grade class. I get to assist the teacher and interact with the students, and it's helped me see that I really do enjoy being in an elementary-school atmosphere. I believe I have made the right decision to go into teaching.
Yesterday, for my physical science class, I had the opportunity to go to an elementary school and teach about the solar system. My physical science class is for those going into elementary education. This whole semester we have been preparing lessons to teach to students at Farrer Elementary. It was almost like a science fair. The elementary students came in and went around to each of the stations set up by us college students. My lab peers and I were the lucky ones to teach the sixth graders—the kids who think they are all that because they are the oldest. We were not too thrilled. The topics we were assigned were pretty basic; I was given the topic of the relative position and movement of the earth, moon, and sun. Most sixth graders already know this, so it was interesting trying to teach them. It was a really good experience, though, to be able to go into an elementary school and have that experience.
I also volunteer for Tutor Outreach to Provo Schools (TOPS); I go to Wasatch Elementary every Friday and help with math time in a fifth-grade class. I get to assist the teacher and interact with the students, and it's helped me see that I really do enjoy being in an elementary-school atmosphere. I believe I have made the right decision to go into teaching.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Licking Rocks!
Posted by Ashley
WOOT! I am finally done with my physical science lab. We had our final today. It consisted of identifying a total of 30 rocks and minerals. We also had to identify properties and how they form. For some of the rock and mineral samples, we actually had to lick the rock and rub it against our teeth. That was really disgusting—what if someone was sick? Although it was very entertaining to watch people's faces after tasting the salty rock. I can now name 15 minerals, 8 metamorphic rocks, 11 sedimentary rocks, and 10 igneous rocks. I still don't understand why I need to know all these rocks to become an elementary teacher, but oh well, it's done now.
WOOT! I am finally done with my physical science lab. We had our final today. It consisted of identifying a total of 30 rocks and minerals. We also had to identify properties and how they form. For some of the rock and mineral samples, we actually had to lick the rock and rub it against our teeth. That was really disgusting—what if someone was sick? Although it was very entertaining to watch people's faces after tasting the salty rock. I can now name 15 minerals, 8 metamorphic rocks, 11 sedimentary rocks, and 10 igneous rocks. I still don't understand why I need to know all these rocks to become an elementary teacher, but oh well, it's done now.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Lucky Duck
Posted by Ashley
I can't believe how fast these two semesters have gone by. Seems like I just arrived at college, when in reality I will be going home in less than two months for summer break. I have been thinking about how lucky I was to get such great roommates.
I didn't know any of them before I came. At first it was really hard because three of them knew each other and the other two knew each other. So I was the only one who didn't know anyone. We haven't had any serious issues or fights. Actually, I don't remember any apartment fights. The only issue we have had is people not cleaning up their messes. I haven't had to worry about people stealing my things or eating my food. We all get along great and it has been a fun year.
Having roommates that I get along with so well has made the transition of living on my own a lot more easier and enjoyable. I will be living with three of them again next year. And I know we will be friends for life.
I can't believe how fast these two semesters have gone by. Seems like I just arrived at college, when in reality I will be going home in less than two months for summer break. I have been thinking about how lucky I was to get such great roommates.I didn't know any of them before I came. At first it was really hard because three of them knew each other and the other two knew each other. So I was the only one who didn't know anyone. We haven't had any serious issues or fights. Actually, I don't remember any apartment fights. The only issue we have had is people not cleaning up their messes. I haven't had to worry about people stealing my things or eating my food. We all get along great and it has been a fun year.
Having roommates that I get along with so well has made the transition of living on my own a lot more easier and enjoyable. I will be living with three of them again next year. And I know we will be friends for life.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I [heart] Provo
Posted by Ashley
I love being here at BYU. We have so many amazing opportunites, like going to a temple that is within walking distance, attending the live CES firesides, and being in the same room as general authorities and the Prophet. Last Saturday I got to go to the Draper Utah Temple open house. This was the first temple open house I have been to, and I absolutely loved it. The temple was so beautiful and incredible. I can't wait to be able to attend the dedication (another exciting opportunity). I never even imagined some of these things would ever come true for me.
I love being here at BYU. We have so many amazing opportunites, like going to a temple that is within walking distance, attending the live CES firesides, and being in the same room as general authorities and the Prophet. Last Saturday I got to go to the Draper Utah Temple open house. This was the first temple open house I have been to, and I absolutely loved it. The temple was so beautiful and incredible. I can't wait to be able to attend the dedication (another exciting opportunity). I never even imagined some of these things would ever come true for me.
Friday, March 5, 2010
In Need of a Haircut
Posted by Ashley
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I was in real need of a haircut to get rid of my split ends. I mentioned this to my roommates, and one of them said she would cut my hair.
I'm not sure why, but I agreed. I trusted her, I guess, and I knew she wouldn't give me a mullet or some other interesting hairdo. Plus it was free, so who could pass that up?
We went to Wal-Mart and bought hair-cutting scissors. That night my roommate cut my hair. She gave me a trim and some layers. The next night she decided she wanted to give me more layers and I agreed. So now I have my own personal hairdresser who lives the next room over, and good news: I am living with her next year too, which means free haircuts for another year.
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I was in real need of a haircut to get rid of my split ends. I mentioned this to my roommates, and one of them said she would cut my hair.I'm not sure why, but I agreed. I trusted her, I guess, and I knew she wouldn't give me a mullet or some other interesting hairdo. Plus it was free, so who could pass that up?
We went to Wal-Mart and bought hair-cutting scissors. That night my roommate cut my hair. She gave me a trim and some layers. The next night she decided she wanted to give me more layers and I agreed. So now I have my own personal hairdresser who lives the next room over, and good news: I am living with her next year too, which means free haircuts for another year.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Saga of Finding Housing
Posted by Ashley
My roommates and I found what we thought was the perfect place to live next year (see this post on Feb. 9). We waited and waited and waited to hear if we got the contract. We finally had to contact the management again, and they said to wait another week. When we called back the following week, they informed us they wouldn't take us because they only wanted tenants who would sign full-year contracts or spring and summer contracts at that time.
Why didn't they tell us that before? They said they'd hold our applications until the end of summer. Uh, HELLO! We would like to find a place to live—we can't wait that long.
So my roommates and I got up early on Saturday and went and stood in line at 7 a.m. in hopes of getting an apartment at the complex that was our back-up plan (a place we weren't too excited about, but we need a place to live). As we moved closer to the front of the line, the manager informed us that there were only two completely empty apartments left—and we were the third group in line. The complex assigned six to an apartment, and the group in front of us only had three people. If there was a half-full apartment available, the group in front of us could take it, leaving us with the last empty apartment—and allowing the six of us to live together.
The manager went to check, but came back with bad news. There weren't any apartments with three contracts still available, so the group in front of us would take half of the last empty apartment.
We were bummed, but we decided to continue waiting in line. We're lucky we did, because the manager was wrong: he came out later and told us there was one apartment that still needed three people, so the group in front of us could take those spots. After waiting for five hours, we got the LAST full apartment.
What a day! We decided to go to Brick Oven to celebrate (it was my first time there). While we were eating, Cosmo showed up and we got a picture with him. It was a great Saturday.
My roommates and I found what we thought was the perfect place to live next year (see this post on Feb. 9). We waited and waited and waited to hear if we got the contract. We finally had to contact the management again, and they said to wait another week. When we called back the following week, they informed us they wouldn't take us because they only wanted tenants who would sign full-year contracts or spring and summer contracts at that time.
Why didn't they tell us that before? They said they'd hold our applications until the end of summer. Uh, HELLO! We would like to find a place to live—we can't wait that long.
So my roommates and I got up early on Saturday and went and stood in line at 7 a.m. in hopes of getting an apartment at the complex that was our back-up plan (a place we weren't too excited about, but we need a place to live). As we moved closer to the front of the line, the manager informed us that there were only two completely empty apartments left—and we were the third group in line. The complex assigned six to an apartment, and the group in front of us only had three people. If there was a half-full apartment available, the group in front of us could take it, leaving us with the last empty apartment—and allowing the six of us to live together.The manager went to check, but came back with bad news. There weren't any apartments with three contracts still available, so the group in front of us would take half of the last empty apartment.
We were bummed, but we decided to continue waiting in line. We're lucky we did, because the manager was wrong: he came out later and told us there was one apartment that still needed three people, so the group in front of us could take those spots. After waiting for five hours, we got the LAST full apartment.What a day! We decided to go to Brick Oven to celebrate (it was my first time there). While we were eating, Cosmo showed up and we got a picture with him. It was a great Saturday.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Livin' on the Street (In a Box)
Posted by Ashley
One question seems to be on everyone's mind: Where to live next year? Three of my roommates and I have decided to live together again, and we've spent the past four Friday afternoons looking at apartments. We were about to give up and just live in a box on the street because we couldn't agree on a place: it was either too expensive, too "ghetto," too far away, too ugly, or unlivable due to some other reason one of us came up with. We were getting sick of looking.
Finally, last Friday, we agreed to make a final decision after checking out one more place. We got there and unanimously agreed we would not live there, but we decided to check out another place right next door. That place was better, but still not perfect. My roommate had a prompting to ask one of the tenants where she lived before. She seemed to really like her last place, so we decided to go check it out. The building was pink; we felt like we were in Mexico by the look of it. We practically had to drag one of our roommates closer to check it out. We knocked on a door and were welcomed inside, and the apartment was great.
After each place we visit, we have a team meeting. This was the first team meeting where we all felt good about an apartment. We submitted our applications that night and returned on Saturday to pay our deposit. Now we just have to wait to hear if we were accepted. It was just amazing that we were guided to that place; by the look of the exterior, we never would have checked it out on our own. So that goes to show you: never judge a book by its cover.
One question seems to be on everyone's mind: Where to live next year? Three of my roommates and I have decided to live together again, and we've spent the past four Friday afternoons looking at apartments. We were about to give up and just live in a box on the street because we couldn't agree on a place: it was either too expensive, too "ghetto," too far away, too ugly, or unlivable due to some other reason one of us came up with. We were getting sick of looking.
Finally, last Friday, we agreed to make a final decision after checking out one more place. We got there and unanimously agreed we would not live there, but we decided to check out another place right next door. That place was better, but still not perfect. My roommate had a prompting to ask one of the tenants where she lived before. She seemed to really like her last place, so we decided to go check it out. The building was pink; we felt like we were in Mexico by the look of it. We practically had to drag one of our roommates closer to check it out. We knocked on a door and were welcomed inside, and the apartment was great.
After each place we visit, we have a team meeting. This was the first team meeting where we all felt good about an apartment. We submitted our applications that night and returned on Saturday to pay our deposit. Now we just have to wait to hear if we were accepted. It was just amazing that we were guided to that place; by the look of the exterior, we never would have checked it out on our own. So that goes to show you: never judge a book by its cover.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday Dinner Disaster
Posted by Ashley
I'm not quite sure why but my roommates and I have never had a meal together or prepared one together. So we decided that we wanted to start having dinner together on Sundays. Yesterday was our first one. We made pizza . . . sort of.
We had the dough and the sauce and the cheese all ready on the pan to go into the oven. We made two pizzas. When we went to put them in the oven, the pans didn't fit. Our oven is a lot smaller than what we are use to at home. So we didn't know what to do other than try to move them to smaller pans . . . this just destroyed our pizza. But we cooked it anyway. We left the second pizza on the large pan and cooked it with the oven door partially open.
Luckily we were all hungry and would eat anything. The one pizza that we left on the big pan was still a bit doughy and the other did not look to pleasant but actually wasnt too bad. It was more of a casserole pizza. But we all enjoyed the laughs we had from this experience. Hopefully next time we will remember our oven is a lot smaller than what we are use to.
I'm not quite sure why but my roommates and I have never had a meal together or prepared one together. So we decided that we wanted to start having dinner together on Sundays. Yesterday was our first one. We made pizza . . . sort of.
We had the dough and the sauce and the cheese all ready on the pan to go into the oven. We made two pizzas. When we went to put them in the oven, the pans didn't fit. Our oven is a lot smaller than what we are use to at home. So we didn't know what to do other than try to move them to smaller pans . . . this just destroyed our pizza. But we cooked it anyway. We left the second pizza on the large pan and cooked it with the oven door partially open.
Luckily we were all hungry and would eat anything. The one pizza that we left on the big pan was still a bit doughy and the other did not look to pleasant but actually wasnt too bad. It was more of a casserole pizza. But we all enjoyed the laughs we had from this experience. Hopefully next time we will remember our oven is a lot smaller than what we are use to.Sunday, October 4, 2009
My Amazing Weekend!
Posted by Ashley
All my roommates were planning on going home and staying with family for conference weekend. Since I don't have family in Utah, I called up my friend whose family I consider my second family, and they were happy to let me come stay with them over the weekend.
So my roommate's dad is a bishop, so he was able to get us tickets to go to conference on Saturday morning. I was SO excited. I had never been to the Conference Center for general conference before (actually the first time I was there was the weekend before when my other roommate invited me to go to the general Relief Society broadcast). Not all my roommates were able to go to conference, so the one with the tickets offered me another ticket so I could bring my friend. We took the FrontRunner and the Trax to get to Salt Lake. It was quite the adventure.
I love conference. Last week it was what kept me going. I was so excited. Every time someone mentioned conference, I wanted to scream with excitement. Being able to actually be in the Conference Center was AMAZING. I loved it. This weekend was so great. I loved all the talks. I enjoyed being with my "family." They felt bad for not doing anything exciting while I was with them . . . but I really enjoyed just being able to relax and not have to think about school for a bit and just enjoy the time with people I love. It made me miss my family but I was glad that I was able to be in the family environment for that fabulous weekend. Not to mention the wonderful home-cooked delicious meals and treats.
I loved what Elder Andersen said during the Saturday morning session about not knowing everything but knowing enough. I definitely got a lot out of those meetings. I can't wait until next conference.
All my roommates were planning on going home and staying with family for conference weekend. Since I don't have family in Utah, I called up my friend whose family I consider my second family, and they were happy to let me come stay with them over the weekend.
So my roommate's dad is a bishop, so he was able to get us tickets to go to conference on Saturday morning. I was SO excited. I had never been to the Conference Center for general conference before (actually the first time I was there was the weekend before when my other roommate invited me to go to the general Relief Society broadcast). Not all my roommates were able to go to conference, so the one with the tickets offered me another ticket so I could bring my friend. We took the FrontRunner and the Trax to get to Salt Lake. It was quite the adventure.
I love conference. Last week it was what kept me going. I was so excited. Every time someone mentioned conference, I wanted to scream with excitement. Being able to actually be in the Conference Center was AMAZING. I loved it. This weekend was so great. I loved all the talks. I enjoyed being with my "family." They felt bad for not doing anything exciting while I was with them . . . but I really enjoyed just being able to relax and not have to think about school for a bit and just enjoy the time with people I love. It made me miss my family but I was glad that I was able to be in the family environment for that fabulous weekend. Not to mention the wonderful home-cooked delicious meals and treats.
I loved what Elder Andersen said during the Saturday morning session about not knowing everything but knowing enough. I definitely got a lot out of those meetings. I can't wait until next conference.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Struggling on Sundays!
Posted by Ashley
Sundays are hard for me. It's difficult not having my family with me at church and having dinner together. Four of my roommates are from Utah. The other one used to live in Utah and has a ton of family who lives here. So most of my roommates go home every Sunday to see family. During the week I am so busy with school that it's hard to have time to think about home. But on Sundays I sure do get homesick.
Sundays are hard for me. It's difficult not having my family with me at church and having dinner together. Four of my roommates are from Utah. The other one used to live in Utah and has a ton of family who lives here. So most of my roommates go home every Sunday to see family. During the week I am so busy with school that it's hard to have time to think about home. But on Sundays I sure do get homesick.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
My Conversion Story
Posted by Ashley
In my last post, I mentioned my experience with seminary and how it played into my conversion. So here is the short version of my story.
My parents are both converts and became inactive when I was little. I would go to church every once in a while. I did go to girls camp every year though. That is where I met some of my best friends. When we started high school my friends would bug me everyday at lunch about going to seminary. Why would I want to go to a church class at 6 a.m.?
One day, about three weeks into school, they made a deal with me—to go to seminary the rest of the week. As it was Wednesday, I figured I could handle going for only two days. So I went and enjoyed it, even though I was confused since I rarely went to church. Monday rolled around and I got up to go to seminary. I continued to go every day.
My mom and I started going back to church; and then about three months later we asked for the missionaries to come give our family the discussions. So then I was baptized in February of 2005. I had gone to seminary every day and my teacher had no idea that I wasn't a member, neither did many of my church friends. Let's see . . . my dad went to church the day of my confirmation (that was the first time I remember him going to church) and he has continued to go ever since. And my sister who is only 17 months younger than me was baptized a year later.
In my last post, I mentioned my experience with seminary and how it played into my conversion. So here is the short version of my story.
My parents are both converts and became inactive when I was little. I would go to church every once in a while. I did go to girls camp every year though. That is where I met some of my best friends. When we started high school my friends would bug me everyday at lunch about going to seminary. Why would I want to go to a church class at 6 a.m.?
One day, about three weeks into school, they made a deal with me—to go to seminary the rest of the week. As it was Wednesday, I figured I could handle going for only two days. So I went and enjoyed it, even though I was confused since I rarely went to church. Monday rolled around and I got up to go to seminary. I continued to go every day.
My mom and I started going back to church; and then about three months later we asked for the missionaries to come give our family the discussions. So then I was baptized in February of 2005. I had gone to seminary every day and my teacher had no idea that I wasn't a member, neither did many of my church friends. Let's see . . . my dad went to church the day of my confirmation (that was the first time I remember him going to church) and he has continued to go ever since. And my sister who is only 17 months younger than me was baptized a year later.
Monday, September 21, 2009
My First Paper at BYU!
Posted by Ashley
Normally I am the one who dreads writing papers, but this one I actually enjoyed writing. It didn't take very long, which was a great plus. And that is not because I did a poor job on it but rather because it was a topic that I love and have a lot to say about it. This paper was for my Book of Mormon class. We were to write a paper on any gospel topic we wanted. The format is pretty much just what you would prepare for a talk in Sacrament meeting. I chose the topic of a change in heart or being truly converted to the gospel. Since I am a convert (I was baptized about three years ago) I figured this would be a great topic for me to write about.
I love my Book of Mormon class. It reminds me so much of seminary (I think it helps that my Book of Mormon class is pretty small compared to many.) Seminary is where my conversion story starts so it is something that I love and miss very much. I am very excited to see what I will learn in this class as well as how my testimony will be strengthened.
Normally I am the one who dreads writing papers, but this one I actually enjoyed writing. It didn't take very long, which was a great plus. And that is not because I did a poor job on it but rather because it was a topic that I love and have a lot to say about it. This paper was for my Book of Mormon class. We were to write a paper on any gospel topic we wanted. The format is pretty much just what you would prepare for a talk in Sacrament meeting. I chose the topic of a change in heart or being truly converted to the gospel. Since I am a convert (I was baptized about three years ago) I figured this would be a great topic for me to write about.
I love my Book of Mormon class. It reminds me so much of seminary (I think it helps that my Book of Mormon class is pretty small compared to many.) Seminary is where my conversion story starts so it is something that I love and miss very much. I am very excited to see what I will learn in this class as well as how my testimony will be strengthened.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Freedom!!
Posted by Ashley
I love all the freedom that I have here at college. But the one freedom that I don't have here . . . is being able to drive places and go wherever and whenever I want. Now if I want to go to the mall, I have to wait for the bus and hope I get on the right one. (It took forever to figure out which bus to take and what time it was coming for my first trip to the mall . . . hopefully I will get better at figuring out bus times.) It makes me laugh because the place I miss driving to the most is Wendy's. I use to go there all the time with my friends for Frosty runs. But don't worry . . . I found the nearest Wendy's and I can't wait to eat some food. So if anyone wants to go for a Frosty and fry run . . . let me know and I will be there in a heartbeat.
I love all the freedom that I have here at college. But the one freedom that I don't have here . . . is being able to drive places and go wherever and whenever I want. Now if I want to go to the mall, I have to wait for the bus and hope I get on the right one. (It took forever to figure out which bus to take and what time it was coming for my first trip to the mall . . . hopefully I will get better at figuring out bus times.) It makes me laugh because the place I miss driving to the most is Wendy's. I use to go there all the time with my friends for Frosty runs. But don't worry . . . I found the nearest Wendy's and I can't wait to eat some food. So if anyone wants to go for a Frosty and fry run . . . let me know and I will be there in a heartbeat.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
It's My Party and I Can Cry If I Want To!
Posted by Ashley
So today I am celebrating my 19th birthday! WOOT! It's been a good day. A bit hard not having my family and friends here to party with me . . . but it's been good. The power in my dorm was out for a few hours today . . . that was interesting.
Last night my roommates baked me a cake so we had a party . . . since we all have crazy schedules during the week they wanted to do it when we were all there. They made a me a crown and everything. We sure enjoyed stuffing our faces with the cake. It was a chocolate cake with my all time favorite . . . Funfetti frosting. It was very delicious!
So today I am celebrating my 19th birthday! WOOT! It's been a good day. A bit hard not having my family and friends here to party with me . . . but it's been good. The power in my dorm was out for a few hours today . . . that was interesting.Last night my roommates baked me a cake so we had a party . . . since we all have crazy schedules during the week they wanted to do it when we were all there. They made a me a crown and everything. We sure enjoyed stuffing our faces with the cake. It was a chocolate cake with my all time favorite . . . Funfetti frosting. It was very delicious!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Meet Ashley Falcon (’12)
Posted by Sarah E. Crane (BA ’09), Editorial Intern
Hometown and High School: Kent, Washington; Kentridge High School
Applied to: BYU
Major Plans: Elementary education
Interests and Achievements: Ballroom dance; part of a multicultural dance club that performed for schools in the school district; volunteered as a teacher in a preschool and interned in a first-grade class; part Native American (Chippewa).
Plans to Bring to Provo: Her Spider-Man blanket and a set of miniature plastic dinosaurs
Waking Up to Religion: Religion wasn’t a major part of Ashley Falcon’s growing-up years; her parents had both stopped attending church when she was young. But as a teenager, Ashley found a group of friends at girls’ camp who were determined to make it a bigger part of her life.
“They bugged me every day to go to seminary at 6 in the morning,” she says. “I thought they were crazy.” Finally, they made a deal: “If I went to seminary for two days, they would leave me alone.” The next morning Ashley woke up, bleary eyed at 5 a.m., to sit in her stake’s seminary class on the stage in the gym. “I thought it was odd, but I liked it,” she says. “I went every day [after] then until I graduated.” Three months after she began attending seminary, Ashley met with the missionaries. Two months later, at age 15, she was baptized.
Don’t Sweat It: When her parents talked to neighbors and friends about where Ashley would end up in college, they joked she’d go to BYU—to get married, of course. “But then I said, ‘Actually, I think I want to go there,’” she says.
Unlike some high schoolers who fret and worry about applying to college, Ashley approached her application to BYU the same way she approaches everything—with her signature easygoing style. In fact, BYU was the only university she applied to. “Now that I think about it, that was probably not the best idea, but I was very calm about it,” she says. “It didn’t really start hitting me that that was a bad decision until the week [applications were due].” But true to character, Ashley didn’t worry much about not getting accepted anywhere. “I just kind of let it go,” she says. “I felt like this is where I needed to be—like this was it.” And, as it turned out, it was.
Hometown and High School: Kent, Washington; Kentridge High SchoolApplied to: BYU
Major Plans: Elementary education
Interests and Achievements: Ballroom dance; part of a multicultural dance club that performed for schools in the school district; volunteered as a teacher in a preschool and interned in a first-grade class; part Native American (Chippewa).
Plans to Bring to Provo: Her Spider-Man blanket and a set of miniature plastic dinosaurs
Waking Up to Religion: Religion wasn’t a major part of Ashley Falcon’s growing-up years; her parents had both stopped attending church when she was young. But as a teenager, Ashley found a group of friends at girls’ camp who were determined to make it a bigger part of her life.
“They bugged me every day to go to seminary at 6 in the morning,” she says. “I thought they were crazy.” Finally, they made a deal: “If I went to seminary for two days, they would leave me alone.” The next morning Ashley woke up, bleary eyed at 5 a.m., to sit in her stake’s seminary class on the stage in the gym. “I thought it was odd, but I liked it,” she says. “I went every day [after] then until I graduated.” Three months after she began attending seminary, Ashley met with the missionaries. Two months later, at age 15, she was baptized.
Don’t Sweat It: When her parents talked to neighbors and friends about where Ashley would end up in college, they joked she’d go to BYU—to get married, of course. “But then I said, ‘Actually, I think I want to go there,’” she says.
Unlike some high schoolers who fret and worry about applying to college, Ashley approached her application to BYU the same way she approaches everything—with her signature easygoing style. In fact, BYU was the only university she applied to. “Now that I think about it, that was probably not the best idea, but I was very calm about it,” she says. “It didn’t really start hitting me that that was a bad decision until the week [applications were due].” But true to character, Ashley didn’t worry much about not getting accepted anywhere. “I just kind of let it go,” she says. “I felt like this is where I needed to be—like this was it.” And, as it turned out, it was.
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