Meet Ashleigh Ewald | First East Asian Student Body President of Oglethorpe University, Youth Radio (YR) Media writer, podcaster, Voters of Tomorrow Georgia’s State Director, and community advocate.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashleigh Ewald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashleigh, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Resilience has become the most important factor behind my success for many reasons. Since the beginning of life, I have had to face my circumstances of being an orphan and later on for a couple of years as a foster child. Being adopted twice and placed in such a disadvantaged upbringing unexpectedly taught me how to be skillful at public speaking and being able to learn how to build meaningful relationships. I struggled with relationships due to lacking the mother-child nurturance that is most needed for children to grow and flourish. It was my ability not only to move on but also to learn and accept my undesirable past. This change in powerful mindset from victim to victory allowed me to build instead the determination to make something out of myself while, most importantly, helping others do the same.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from others is that I do what many won’t do, and I enjoy big goal setting, actually achieving them, and helping people along the way instead of staying in the comfort zone. My unique story proves that I am one of the few people who do not allow their past circumstances to define their potential; therefore, I can view the world through a lens where anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I got to where I am now because of my parents, family, close friends, and, most importantly, the self-motivation to want more for myself and my future family. I have practiced for years to put my passion for community service and desire to improve the quality of life for many into action. It was not easy. Overcoming the challenges came with bumps in the road, in which I had to remain resilient and persistent in the causes I care about. I have learned that what others think of you is not your business and that you are doing something wrong if no one is talking about you. I have learned to remain true to myself and remember my ‘why’ for being involved in the organization I am fortunately a part of, and that truth reveals itself. I have learned that genuine shows and nothing beats results. I want people to know that no matter your difficulties, you can achieve that goal you may have in mind, you can help shape where you want to be in the next five to ten years, and you determine your potential no one else does.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Little Five Points in Atlanta because it exposes different communities and excellent shops. We would probably eat at a small local restaurant with international food, drink iced coffee, and hang out with loved ones. We would also visit the Martin Luther King historical birth home and walk the Atlanta BeltLine.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am delighted to give a shoutout to both Voters of Tomorrow nationals and our Georgia chapter for not only being such an impactful team but also being the change. I am so grateful to be part of the robust organization that inspires me daily and is living proof of the power of Gen Z. I want to give a shoutout to Mark Putman, formerly state director of Voters of Tomorrow Georgia, who inspired me to become a better person. He has helped build me into the person I am now. We spent the entire 2022 summer and my college sophomore year doing advocacy work along the lines of lobbying for affordable healthcare, attending rallies together, and so much more. He showed me the power of intimate friendships and continues to push me to be and do better. Lastly, I applaud my Student Government Association at Oglethorpe University for being persistent and proactive in following through with our initiatives.

Website: https://linktr.ee/ashleighewaldofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighewaldofficial/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleighewald

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@AshleighEwaldpodcast?feature=shared

Image Credits
The one with Greg Bluestein, he took that pic selfie mode.