Earning a degree in childhood education, Willett wants to continue her mother’s legacy and work to help educate youngsters.
After attending multiple schools during her K-12 education, Ashley Willett finally found a place she could feel herself in Schoolcraft College.
Throughout her young life, Willett found herself attending school in districts such as Plymouth-Canton, Hazel Park, Ferndale and South Lyon. When looking at a place for college, she looked for a place that would support her learning needs via accommodations.
“While I was in South Lyon, I did a tour here at Schoolcraft and fell in love with it,” she said. “I found out how the accommodations work and fell in love with it.”
With challenges throughout her life, Willett has been working on earning her degree for nine years. She’ll complete the journey to her associate degree this weekend when she walks at Schoolcraft College’s 61st Annual Commencement Ceremony, taking place May 9 in the TrinityElite Sports Center.
Willett will receive an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education, a field she’s been exposed to her whole life. Growing up, her mother worked in early childhood education, and Willett consistently saw how she worked and decided she wanted to follow in her mom’s footsteps.
“We had a summer childcare at home,” Willett said. “All my friends, the neighborhood kids, they would come and my mom and watch them during the summer.”
Today, she’s been working for area childcare centers.
While at Schoolcraft, Willett, found involvement on campus with several groups, including the Black Student Union, the Pride Team and more. Her participation in those groups led her to meet Catreese Qualls, a member of the College’s Marketing Department. Willett said Qualls always made her feel welcome.
“She’s always been open and warm. She’s always willing to help somebody in need, whether it’s your starving and you need food or just going to talk to her,” Willett said. “She’s someone who is easy to talk to.”
After graduating, Willett plans to continue working in early childhood education. Her goal is to pursue a bachelor’s degree at an institution such as Ferris State University or Central Michigan University.
She wants other students who may have had struggles like her to know they can succeed if they put their mind to it.
“I would tell them to never give up on their dreams. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you should give up or quit,” she said. “Be who you want to be. Embrace who you are.”