Testimonial: Layla Creel
Words cannot describe what Mrs. Ashley did for not just my Trail journey, but for me as a person. I’ve always been outgoing, but I don’t think I truly knew who I was until her. When you begin your Trail journey, everyone tells you “just be yourself,” but you can’t be yourself if you don’t even know who that is yet. She helped me find that.
I’ll never forget going from being so nervous on my first Zoom call with her to walking straight into her office without even knocking by the end. Studying for Trail is such a weight on your back, learning all the history, learning yourself, and trying to prepare for everything. Mrs. Ashley brought peace into every single part of it. Mrs. Ashley holds so many mock interviews that by the time I entered my county interview, I wasn’t even nervous. Even to this day, I think I could interview with anyone and not break a sweat.
There were so many times I called her in the middle of the night in tears, convinced I wasn’t prepared enough. And she always answered, no matter the hour. She never once made me feel like a burden. When she says she’ll be your biggest cheerleader for life, she truly means it.
I’ll forever need Mrs. Ashley even though my studying journey has concluded. I know she’ll still answer the phone and give me guidance for whatever I may need. I would recommend her to anyone studying for Trail a million times over. I love her more than I can ever put into words, and I’m forever grateful for everything she poured into me.
