In 2006, Ashley Johnson made the difficult decision to drop out of high school. Afterward, she enlisted in the Army with the intention to serve 20 years and leave. However, it wasn’t until she witnessed her peers furthering their education that she decided to do the same for herself and her children.
“The Army was one of the best decisions for me to make at that point,” Ashley said. “I thought I wasn’t cut out for college. I thought the military was going to be the end-all, be-all – I thought I was going to be in 20 years, sail through that, and that was the end.”
Enrolling at CSU came with uncertainties and a lack of confidence, especially with being a single mom. Despite the hesitations, she persevered with the encouragement of her professors and earned a master’s degree in business administration.
“I never thought that I would be here, from GED to MBA,” she said. “CSU is for everybody. It’s not just for one demographic or one person that wants to get one degree. It’s for everybody to further their educational journey.”
Watch Ashley’s story to see how the decision to enroll at CSU gave her the confidence to succeed.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
