Ash enjoys community involvement

For Pratt Community College first year nursing student, Jordin Ash, volunteering is part of her life. She is active not only at PCC, but also in the community.
 
Ash is from Rosalia, Kan., and originally came to PCC because of the nursing program and the rodeo team. Pratt was the only program in the state with both rodeo and a high ranking nursing program, Ash said. But she tore her knee, so she is no longer participating in rodeo.
 
Ash received the Above and Beyond Scholarship from PCC, which is why she began doing community service in Pratt, which requires students to do a minimum of 50 hours community service. Ash said receiving the scholarship is what got her interested in helping the community.
 
In order to fill the community service requirement, Ash started volunteering at the Pratt Area Humane Society.
 
“I got hooked on going to the humane society. I love it,” Ash said. “I like to walk the dogs and I give the puppies baths. I volunteer to help make a difference. It makes you feel good knowing you’re making a difference in someone else’s life, or a dog’s for that matter.”
 
Ash also volunteered at Southwest Elementary School as a teacher’s assistant two to three days a week. She said she feels bad, but nursing school is so hectic, she hasn’t been able to go to Southwest Elementary School as much as she’d like to.
 
“The kids look up to me, because I was going to nursing school and I had a job,” she said. “It is amazing what kindergarteners see when you actually talk to them.”
 
Ash is active with PCC’s Phi Theta Kappa, which is an international community college honor society whose members are chosen on the basis of scholastic achievement, leadership abilities, contributions to the college, and faculty recommendations.
 
She volunteers her time, goes to school full-time, works with PTK and also holds a steady job, and will continue to until she graduates.
 
Once Ash is finished at PCC, her and her husband plan to move.
 
“He’s in the military, and is currently deployed in Afghanistan,” she said.  
 
She has hopes of getting her bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma University, then eventually going on to receive her master’s degree in neonatology, and working with premature babies.
 
“It just peaks my interest. I spent a few hours in the obstetrics, and I loved it there,” Ash said.