You are probably wondering how it got to this point. How me, Ashley Mcgee, got here, in Times Square. Right now, it is about 85 degrees outside, it is a warm spring day in New York. The city was just starting to wake up, you could hear the usual honking of raging taxi drivers, as they are trying to get their frantic tourists to the JFK airport. But for a city girl like me, I am pushing my way through the crowds trying to get to my office building on time.

In Elementary school, I was always in a constant battle with myself, trying to be the best me I can be, while also pleasing my family and friends along the way.  My dad was a short, buff man with curly black hair and a contagious smile. My mother on the other hand, was a tall, skinny Italian woman with dark hair and brown eyes, she was easily one the most beautiful people I have ever laid eyes on. My parents tend to put up this front, that they had it all figured out, that life was good and money was stable. The truth of the matter is, they never really had it figured out. There a few days in that time period that I can remember vividly, such as my dad’s strong force while pinning my mother up against the wall just for asking a simple question. Furthermore, I can remember the phone calls, dialing 911 frantically, shaking during the process out of fear for what my father would do. Some may say that I grew up faster than most of the people in Elementary school, and that is probably true. I had to learn how to overcome adversity, even at such a young age. I had to learn how to put a smile on my face, despite what was going on back home. Most of all, I had to learn how to take these situations and grow from them.

In middle school, my parents finally got a divorce. This may seem like something that would be depressing, but truth be told, it was a blessing. I struggled in middle school, mainly with my identity and who I could fit in with. Bouncing from friend group to friend group, but none of them seemed like the right fit for me. Academically, I did okay. Maintaining A’s and B’s, as the typical middle schooler should. Life was finally starting to look up in eighth grade, I was a popular girl and had lots of friends. Not only this, but life was about to take a turn for the best because I was about to start at Seabreeze High School.

When you think about high school, you probably think about the movie High School Musical or the TV show 90210, but honestly, as most people know, these shows don’t even come close. High school was some of the best and worst years of my life. The girls at Seabreeze were an interesting breed, as some of them were snotty and rich, and others weird. As for the guys, they were all players and decent ones were heard to come by. Lucky for me, I found a great boyfriend in 10th grade. His name is Sean, he is the most fun-loving, kind hearted guy. Only a few teachers at Seabreeze made an impact on me and my education. When it finally got to senior year, I was just ready to graduate. I applied to 4 different schools, but ended up picking my dream school, University of Florida.

After graduating top of my class at Seabreeze, I went on to start college during the fall semester. The move to Gainesville was hard, but I got used to it. Leaving town for college was one of the best decisions I ever made. I was able to rush a sorority and meet some life long friends. I went to the college of journalism and communications and got my degree in broadcasting. That is how I, Ashley Mcgee, ended up here in New York City. I am living out my dream on the Today Show with my own segment on personal health and fashion. I hope to be an advocate for those that are out there with personal and family struggles, that you can overcome these times. For the girls still stuck in high school, things do look up. And for myself, because I, in fact, did it all on my own.