Making the transition from high school to college can be an intimidating process, but not when Honors student Ashley Dobbins is leading the way!
Ashley is currently a senior, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a minor in Gerontology. Ashley was an honors student throughout her junior high and high school years, which allowed for an easy transition to the Honors Program at Illinois State University. “It just made sense to keep going because I like doing work and challenging myself,” Ashley commented.
While many students have the opportunity to relax and perhaps take a few classes over the summer, Ashley spends her summers hard at work. During the summer of 2008, Ashley was chosen as a Preview Guide to help incoming freshmen become acclimated to the Illinois State campus and its resources. “I really try to make them excited about coming to ISU because we all know that ISU is da bomb,” Ashley said enthusiastically. Not only is Ashley responsible for ensuring the incoming freshmen feel welcome and excited, but she also responsible for ensuring the parents feel just as comfortable about their kids coming to Illinois State as well. “Most times, parents are the ones paying for their students, so they really want to know that they are getting their money’s worth -- that’s a huge responsibility.”
This summer (2009), Ashley will be considered a Lead Guide, which is a step up from being a Preview Guide. On top of her responsibilities with the students, Ashley will also be a team leader for the new Preview Guides, showing them the ropes, answering questions, and making them feel comfortable. “As a Preview Guide, you are the face of ISU. You are what the students and parents first see for the next 4, 5, 6 years of their lives. You really have to be professional but you also have to be fun. Professional fun is a good way to put it.”
Ashley was also selected to be an Honors Peer Mentor (HPM) during the fall of 2006 and 2007, and co-facilitated a section of Honors Freshman Seminar (HFS) each semester. “It was a great beginning to becoming a Preview Guide because being a Preview Guide was a massive version of being an HPM, it was a lot of fun, and I met a lot of cool people,” Ashley commented. Being an HPM allowed Ashley to gain quite a bit of teaching experience, public speaking skills and she learned a great deal about being part of a team. “The HPM is really helpful and HFS is a great transition program.”
Aside from being involved with Preview, Ashley is an active member of the Student Speech and Hearing Association (SSHA), which is a professional organization for students majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Ashley is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (a national honor society for freshmen), the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and she participates in Relay for Life. When she is not participating in these organizations, Ashley may be found doing an internship at the Normal Senior Center and working on her Independent Honors Study.
Ashley, along with another Honors student, is currently working on an Independent Study related to dialects. More specifically, they would like to see if there is a preferable dialect in the professional world. Ashley and her partner will be distributing surveys to Business and Communication majors to discover their thoughts on dialects. “We chose these majors because they have a lot of professional speaking they have to do. We want to find out if people have to talk a certain way in order for others to take them seriously. “
When asked if she will use her experiences through Honors in her future career, Ashley did not hesitate to respond, “Without a doubt. I’ve had some awesome experiences in the Honors Program and I’ve had opportunities to challenge myself. I’ve learned how to balance and about time management. I’ve learned how to be professional.” And her advice for future students? “Don’t be afraid of who you are because these 4 years is what that’s all about -- finding yourself. And don’t be afraid of what that is.”
written by: Sasha Boheme