Ashley Farias is a college advisor working with Early Academic Outreach Program Destination College Advising Corps (EAOP DCAC) at Huntington Park High School. Ms. Ashley contributes to the HPHS community by providing help to underclassmen in preparation for their next steps after graduation, as well as seniors going through the process of applying to universities and all the tasks that come with the experience. Ms.Ashley works alongside Ms. Reyna, the college advisor, Ms.Kat, the ELAC dual enrollment advisor, and other college counselors in the college center.
Before entering university and working with EAOP DCAC, Ms. Ashley was a student at HPHS and graduated as Salutatorian of the class of 2021. While attending HPHS, Ashley Farias was involved in Spartan Shield from her sophomore year to senior year during which she became editor in chief. Ashley was also in Academic Decathlon, and treasurer of Key Club. Aside from the responsibilities that Ashley balanced in her extracurriculars and academics, she had to take the role of being a “second parent” to her younger siblings. While being the first born and the eldest sibling, Ashley took the initiative in supporting her mom by providing her help and taking care of her siblings. Though there were many things at hand, she remained positive and motivated throughout the process.
“My mom kept me motivated, I just wanted to be someone she can rely on and be proud of,” and that is the exact person that she was to her mother.
Despite the challenges that Ashley faced, she worked through the circumstances and was granted wonderful opportunities. She became one of the selected Delson Scholars with a scholarship of $40,000, was able to go straight to UCLA after graduating high school, and became part of the graduating class of 2025 double majoring in Sociology and Education & Social Transformation.
Although difficult in the beginning, entering college became a transition she slowly got accustomed to.
“I felt the culture shock, I was surrounded by many different people. I went from being a straight A student to seeing my grades drop”.
Ashley was able to come back from this and maintained a 3.8 gpa after her first year. Over her next few years in college, Ashley became more involved because it had been something she wanted to do. During her senior year at UCLA, she began working as a bruin advisor and was working with about 150 students.
Since then, it is now Ashley’s second year working with UCLA EAOP in hopes of gaining professional experience in working in education.
“I wanted to work in a program that made an impact.”
Working with the program has been a good experience for Ashley. She first became inspired by her advisor during her time of attending HPHS and as an EAOP student herself. Her goals as an EAOP advisor have been to target a larger number of students and be able to give them advice and the support that they need. Though Ms. Ashley works with seniors during their college application process and other tasks they need assistance with, she also works with underclassmen and provides them with her guidance. Throughout the school year, Ashley ensures that she pushes her students. It’s not always easy for students to adjust, but it ends up working out at the end of the day.
Outside of EAOP, Ashley loves going to shows and concerts, as she has gone to over 30 and has seen big artists such as Taylor Swift, The Marias, The Jonas Brothers, Arctic Monkeys, and many others. Ashley’s favorite music genre is Punk Rock, “it represents who I am”. She enjoys sushi and poki, as well as exploring and traveling, “I love exploring new places as well as the streets of LA”. She has traveled to London and shares her interest in going to Germany.
When in a calmer setting, she enjoys watching movies and spending time with her family. As a family oriented individual, she highly values the time that she spends with her family especially her younger siblings. Ashley is also into writing and writes in her free time while allowing her thoughts to flow, “my love for writing started when I was a kid, being in journalism made it blossom”.
As a previous student at HPHS, Ms. Ashley sympathizes with the high school students she works with. Her advice to the students that she works with is for them to prioritize themselves as well as their mental health. She believes there should be opportunities for students to relax and be themselves.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’ll be okay” is something she always reassures her students with.
Written by Samantha Castillo, Staff Writer