Ashley Jones

I think it boils down to people believing in me and championing me. Even in those moments when I've been down in the dumps or ready to throw it all in and say I can't do this, people believing in me makes me that much more motivated to work harder and succeed. That means my parents, my son, my coworkers, the clients I serve. People that hold me accountable and keep me driven when I know people are rooting for me. I do not want to disappoint people who believe in me.

Don't be afraid to change directions. It's never too late to learn something new, to pivot, to change things up. There was so much overlap between community mental health and the music business because everybody needs connection, everyone needs to feel heard. Doing things that scare you a little bit is good for you. Don't be afraid to do the scary things. Find work that is meaningful and fulfilling to you. Don't just do things because they sound impressive.

Remember that you have a voice. Trust your voice. And don't make yourself smaller to make other people feel comfortable. It has taken me a really long time to learn that sometimes the louder my voice, the more people I rub the wrong way, but that's okay as long as the goal is being met, and the goal is to help children. It is so important for women not to lose themselves in their work or guilt themselves because they have families at home. Amplify the voices of other women who may not have a seat at the table. As a white woman I feel like I have a position of privilege and I can use that as a platform to amplify voices of other people that may not be heard. I always try to speak up for people who are marginalized or discriminated against or oppressed in some way.

Systemic barriers. My job is to help meet students' needs but sometimes we don't have the resources, sometimes the families aren't on board, sometimes school policies might even get in the way, or even larger systems make it difficult to provide what a student might need. Burnout in this field. A lot of counselors find themselves fizzling out way too fast because they've put everything they have into this role. Feeling like you're never doing enough. We play the long game and not everything we do has an immediate result, especially when you're working with trauma or behaviors that are problematic in the classroom.

Authenticity is number one. Just being a genuine person, not being performative, being unapologetically yourself. Honesty and respect for all people is so important. Honesty with yourself is just as important as being honest with other people. Don't be afraid to face the hard truth. Treating people with respect goes a long way. Empathy is huge for me. Trying to understand other people's circumstances without necessarily having experienced it yourself. Advocacy is huge for me, looking out for barriers that are keeping other people from reaching their full potential and helping them navigate how to remove those barriers.