Ashley (Asendorf) Hairl - Class of 2008

Ashley (Asendorf) Hairl, a 2008 graduate of FVL, looks back on her high school years as a time shaped by teamwork, friendship, and growth. From the golf course in the fall to cheer and stunt in the winter, she found connection and learned valuable life skills along the way. Today, she reflects on the experiences, influences, and lessons from FVL that continue to impact her journey. 

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Ashley (Asendorf) Hairl - Fox Tales Q&A

What is your most memorable high school experience?

My most memorable high school experience was being part of a team. In the fall, I was part of the golf team and then transitioned to the cheer & stunt team during the winter months. I met some of my best friends being part of these teams and learned lifelong skills along the way, such as discipline, persistence, and teamwork.
 

Who has had the greatest influence on your time at FVL?

Mr. Welch had the greatest influence on my time at FVL. He sparked my interest in Psychology which guided me toward my decision to major in Psychology in college. 
 

What are you doing now professionally and how did you get into this career path?

I currently work at Caravel Autism Health, which is an organization that spans across the United States with over 80 clinics and counting. I am the Senior Application Support Specialist at this organization. I wear a variety of hats but my main role is training and supporting clinicians with the system we use for client records. I graduated from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee with a Masters in Art Therapy, and all throughout college I worked with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This became my passion and instead of going into Art Therapy, I focused my talents on teaching lifelong skills to the children and families that I served. Eventually I became a subject matter expert of the system we use for data collection and record keeping, and started training other clinicians on how to use the system. This opened up the door for me to become a support specialist within the company where I continue to advance my skills. 

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Photo shows Ashley at the CR Unite Autism and IDD Care Conference (CentralReach conference focused on techlology-enabled care of autism and intellectual and develpmental disabilities-IDD).

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What was your first job?

My first job was at Applebees. I worked for them through high school and into college.  
 

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

Most people do not know that I considered becoming a pilot out of high school. I have always loved airplanes and wanted to fly all throughout high school, but decided on going to college instead.  
 

What is something valuable you learned during your career?

Throughout my career I've learned the importance of listening. This skill is essential in the helping profession (whether that's food service, customer support, or clinical treatment of any kind). I've always been a problem solver for as long as I can remember, but I had to learn that in order to be able to solve the problem, you first have to listen. It seems obvious enough, but it's such an important skill in all aspects of life.
 

What’s one lesson from your high school years that still sticks with you?

The biggest lesson I learned in high school was resilience. High school can be a wild ride socially and academically. Going through the teen years while being challenged in these areas can be difficult at times, but with a strong group of friends and family and a firm foundation of faith I was able to overcome any hurdles no matter how big or small. This really helped me become more resilient which was essential going into college and becoming an independent young adult.
 

Anything else you would like to share with the FVL community?

I truly value my time at FVL and am so grateful I had the privilege to go there. My path in life would have been much different had I not learned what I learned or met the influential people I met while at FVL.