About 17 years ago, Ashley Payne stood before the crowd at her high school graduation to deliver her valedictorian speech. She had high hopes of continuing her education to become a nurse, but a health issue popped up and stymied her plans. She recovered from the pulmonary embolism she had at age 18, married her high school sweetheart, and started a family.
Eleven years later, Ashley had five children and was preparing to finally return to college when her mother passed away. The loss of the person she calls the “greatest cheerleader” in her life set her back again. Struggling with grief, she felt hopeless and couldn’t imagine taking on more responsibilities. That’s when she found a Post-It note written by her 9-year-old daughter, Lorelai, that instantly changed her mind.
“Winners never quit, and quitters never win,” Lorelai wrote. “Aim for the moon, and if you miss, you may hit a star.”
Motivated by her daughter’s confidence in her, Ashley enrolled in Keiser University in Lakeland, Florida. She worked hard, as always, and even had two more children while she working towards her degree. She was back in class right away after having her babies, and four years later, all of her dedication paid off. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA and became valedictorian for the second time!
Lorelai is 13 now, and she doesn’t even remember where she heard the phrases she wrote down on that note. But she does remember why she wrote it.
“I heard it somewhere, and that was the first thing that came to mind,” she recalled. “She set her goals and reached them. It inspired me to do the same in my own life.”
Ashley plans to continue on to earn a Master of Science degree in Nurse-Midwifery at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She hopes sharing her story inspires others to never give up on their own goals, never fear failure, and “aim for the moon” themselves.
She firmly believes she could not have achieved her goals without the support of her family and her strong religious faith. She credits this support system for enabling her to achieve her mission. She asserts that the only barriers we have in life are the ones we build ourselves.
“There is nothing holding you back,” said the new grad. “It might feel like it, but it’s perceived boundaries. Just surround yourself with people who care, that love you, that nourish your achievements, and you can do anything you want.”
That simple motivational note was all it took to light a fire in Ashley’s heart. We love her message about making (and tearing down!) our own barriers, and we hope this story resonates and reaches those who need to hear it!
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