Senior Ashley Olson is graduating this semester with a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree. The 22-year-old completed college in four years and is sad to graduate.
“I’m going to miss my friends so much,” she said. “The people from all over that I won’t see anymore.”
She plans to attend law school after graduating from Youngstown State University in hopes of becoming a corporate attorney at a law firm. Olson said she would love to be a part-time professor too.
Olson studied business marketing management at YSU. Ideally, she hopes to attend the University of Akron to pursue a law degree.
During her time in college, Olson maintained a 3.8 GPA while working at Kilcawley Center and Island Tropics Tanning Salon. She also coached the cheerleading squad at Lowellville Junior High School.
She stayed involved on campus and recommended that other students do the same.
Olson was part of the American Advertising Federation, the Honorary Economics Club and the YSU chapter of the American Marketing Association.
“Don’t be just a college student. Be a well-rounded individual,” she said. “Anybody can be a student, but balancing more than one thing will set you up for success.”
Olson added that her parents inspired her to work hard through college.
“Since I was a little girl, they instilled that drive in me that education is so important,” Olson said.
She said she looks forward to having a degree that no one can take away from her and entering the real world in search of the next step toward her career.
Olson is most proud of traveling abroad to London and Dublin. She went on the trip through YSU to view how businesses operate in foreign countries.
“It opened up my eyes,” she said. “Thereare so many places I want to see that I had no desire to see before I went.”
She traveled overseas with one of her closest friends, Kevin Day. Day is also a graduating senior who shares the same major as Olson.
They met their freshman year and have been friends ever since.
“He was in my STEM class and just came up to me and said, How was your weekend?’ like he’s known me for years,” Olson said. “Then we had every class together that day. It was like he was following me.”
Olson said that since then, they scheduled every class together.
Day said Olson is a dedicated student and finishes her work in a timely fashion.
“She is always willing to help group members,” Day said. “We help each other. We balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
Instructor Michael Pontikos said Olson was a very hard worker in his advertising classes.
“She is very detail-oriented … the kind of person who gets things done,” Pontikos said.
Michael McGiffin, Kilcawley Center evening operations manager, said Olson is a promising leader.
“She cares a great deal about the people she works with,” he said. “She always goes to vast lengths to serve a student.”
John Young, associate director of Kilcawley Center, said she is definitely a people person.
“Wherever she chooses to go, she will be successful because of her people skills,” Young said.
Olson is searching for internships after graduation and leaves this piece of advice for freshmen.
“Without an education, it makes it hard to put your individual imprint on the world,” she said.
