WHO ASHLEY IS

By Ashley Arnold

WHERE ASHLEY CAME FROM

-Ashley’s Early Years

-High School

-Military Life

-New Chapter

-Salt Lake CIty

ASHLEY’S EARLY YEARS

Ashley grew up in the family farm house in Monee,

IL from birth until age 16. She was the youngest of

three siblings. Growing up, she didn’t have many

friends. She felt like an outcast most of the time. She

always did well in school and enjoyed playing out on

the farm while being young.

HIGH SCHOOL

High school was a time where Ashley was trying to

figure out who she was. She experimented with

drinking, with different groups of friends, and

different activities and new sports. She found her

sports niche as a runner and her favorite activities to

be outdoorsy ones.

Ashley was disconnected from her family through

most of her high school years. She did not feel as

part of any community, but instead as an outsider to

all groups she participated in.

HIGH SCHOOL, CONT.

During high school, Ashley discovered the song,

“I’m Movin’ On” by Rascall Flats. This became her

theme song and has stuck as such to this day.

As she was finishing up high school, she decided to

enlist in the US Army.

MILITARY LIFE

Ashley had a place she belonged in the military, for a

while. She then felt disconnected from her society of

service-members as well as civilians. After 5 years, she

left the regular Army and joined the Tennessee

National Guard.

She spent 6 years in the National Guard and felt a

part of the culture. After 6 years, it was time for her to

go back to the words of her theme song: I’m Movin’ On.

It was time for her to start a new chapter in her life.

NEW CHAPTER

The new chapter was supposed to be filled with fun and

training with her sister, Meghan. Instead it was began with

celebrating Meghan’s life after she died at an early age of

30 from an ice climbing accident. Ashley still decided to

stick with her theme of movin’ on and moved out to Utah.

She found Utah to be a wonderful place and an amazing

community of climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts as

well as veterans that welcomed her to the new city.

SALT LAKE CITY

The new chapter of her life began to form

in Salt Lake City, UT as a nursing student,

volunteer, ski/snowboard instructor, and

CNA. She found many new friends and

amazing people to spend time with.

She found that this was a place where she

fit in for what felt like the first time in her

life. She became an appreciated part of the

veterans community and had positive,

upbeat friends who were interested in her

well-being instead of just their own.

WHERE ASHLEY IS NOW

TODAY IN ASHLEY’S LIFE

Ashley has become an active member of her VFW post as well

as a coach with the VA Recreation Therapy rock climbing group

and the local chapter of Team River Runner.

She is a CNA and completing prerequisites for nursing school.

Ashley remains an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys her job as a

ski and snowboard instructor.

She has matured into a solid rock climber and outdoors

enthusiast.

WHERE IS ASHLEY GOING?

NEXT IN ASHLEY'S LIFE

Ashley will remain an active part of the Salt Lake City

veterans community with her current programs and most

likely others in the future.

She will complete her prerequisites, get accepted into

nursing school and hopes to become an exceptional nurse.

Ashley will continue working in the outdoors industry in

snow sports and will most likely expand into other parts of

the community such as SCUBA.

HOW IS ASHLEY CONNECTED TO HER

WORLD?

-Culture

-Community

-Society

CULTURE

Throughout Ashley’s life, she has learned how to

be very independent. She moved out of her parents’

house as a young teenager. She feels as part of

America’s culture of misfits and transplants. She

doesn’t have family traditions or close family ties.

COMMUNITY

The only community that has stayed consistent as a part of

Ashley’s life is the military community that became the

veteran community. She became part of this community of

service members when she signed her contract (pre- 9-11)

and went to basic training (post- 9-11). Although she chose to

leave the military before retirement, she became an active

part of the veterans community due to her experiences in

Afghanistan and Iraq as well as stateside with her units.

SOCIETY

Ashley has never felt connected to society as a

whole. Pivotal life events for her instead made her to

feel more disconnected each time. Being a veteran,

she feels as an outcast from society as they don’t

understand combat veterans well. She wants to help

society understand veterans and help them feel more

accepted as part of society.

ASHLEY AS A PERSON

How she views herself, her environment, and

her lifestyle

VIEW OF SELF

Ashley’s self image has always needed

improvement. She now has the highest self image

she has had throughout her life. This is due to the

positive circle of friends she has chosen to surround

herself with since moving to SLC a year ago.

Different events in her life kept her self image poor,

but she has learned that she is worth a lot, smart,

and a great friend.

VIEW OF ENVIRONMENT

Throughout Ashley’s life, her environment has changed

significantly. She grew up on a farm that her family manages. Upon

completion of high school, she entered the military and moved

around the USA, Iraq, and Afghanistan throughout the next 11 years.

Her current environment is that of amazing mountains and an

amazing adult playground of great outdoor activities right outside

her door. This outdoor recreation haven has provided her much

spiritual relief as well as a place to find herself and be able to slow

down and do some soul searching.

VIEW OF LIFESTYLE

Growing up, Ashley’s lifestyle was rather typical: go to

school, go home, have dinner with family, go to bed, repeat.

In the military, her life was dictated very much through

required activities and long days of training.

Now that she is a civilian again, she appreciates the

freedom to set her own schedule, do as she pleases, and

enjoy life. Her lifestyle is a busy one, yet one full of outdoor

recreation, work, and volunteering.

LIFESTYLE, CONT.

Her lifestyle is atypical of her cohort. She has not

settled down, rented a house or apartment, found a

significant other, or provided herself with a steady

income. Instead, she lives with friends or out of her

truck, and is constantly on the go. Instead of caring

for herself first, she cares for her friends first and

sets herself second.

NOTES:

The disjointed flow of this presentation is on

purpose. It gives you the feel of the disjointed life

that Ashley has led. Her life hasn’t been one of

comfort and wealth but instead one of challenges

and work. She’s made it through each challenge

along the way to become who she is today, and that,

my friend, is the tough Ashley Arnold we all know

and love.