It’s Wednesday night. Typically, Wake Wednesday involves an assortment of sorority and fraternity mixers, house parties and bar-hopping. Not for Ashton Astbury.
For Ashton, Wednesday nights are chock-full of red pens and Red Bull in her corner office on the fifth floor of Benson. As the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of Wake Forest’s Old Gold & Black newspaper, Wednesdays are most definitely wacky – just not in an alcoholic sort of way.
As I sit in my dear friend’s office I cannot help but notice the hair dryer, make-up and array of dresses, skirts and heels strewn across a corner of the floor. Noticing my gaze, Ashton immediately interjects, “Oh, that stuff was all for a student leader event I had this afternoon. Don’t worry, I don’t sleep here . . . most nights.”
If you ask Ashton where she’s from you’ll get a complex, yet rehearsed response.
“I grew up in Long Island, NY. Went to high school and lived at my Mom’s house in New Canaan, CT. Now that I am in college, I split my time between Long Island and Connecticut.”
She credits where she is now to her grandparents and mother and of course, the ‘Strong’ Island lifestyle.
So when did journalism come along? Maybe her interest sparked from her involvement with her high school publication The Courant where she became the youngest and longest serving Editor-in-Chief. Maybe it was that infamous day at the Student Activities Fair in 2008 when she approached the Old Gold & Black booth. Whatever the case, we should all be thankful she did.
Throughout her time at OGB Ashton has written feature articles, served as Sports Editor and covered some of the biggest stories at the university.
The past two and a half years have been nothing short of crazy for this enthusiastic, 5’2” blonde spitfire. Between juggling her various positions at the OGB and holding executive titles in Delta Zeta, Ashton savors any and all free time she can snag.
“I know that my Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are going to be spent editing and huddled on this couch, so come Friday, I’m always ready for some down time.”
What may be so intriguing about Ashton is not necessarily her leadership roles, the fact that she has seen Dave Matthews over a dozen times all over the East Coast or her unique obsession with Ruit (never call it Beer Pong in front of her; she’ll immediately correct you and whip out a copy of Beerfest to prove your mistake).
No, instead, what I have found to be the most intriguing thing about Ashton is her undeniably honest genuineness. Her motivation and dedication have proved to be fundamental to her success – attributes from which all current and future female leaders should learn.
If you ever have the pleasure to meet Ashton, I’m sure you’ll feel the same. You’ll quickly learn of her infatuation with lacrosse pinnies and Landshark, her constant use of the words ‘copious’ and ‘garner,’ and fixation with Disney.
Oh, and if you see her around campus this week, wish her a Happy Birthday. She’s (finally) 21 and will probably be playing Beer Pong, er, I mean Ruit.