Autobiography 1 Autobiography Ashley Koldyke Education 111 Professor Eastman November 14, 2007
Autobiography 2 My name is Ashley Danielle Koldyke. I was born on August 14, 1988 at the Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw, Indiana. I have spent my entire childhood growing up in Silver Lake, Indiana with my family. My father s name is Dan, and my mother s name is Cindy. I have an older brother named Chris and a younger brother named Matt. Growing up, I lived on a farm in the country. Over the years, my family and I have had lots of pets including: dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, a bird, and a hamster. We currently have a six year old Golden Retriever named Maggie who is considered to be part of the family. My family and I have also raised many animals on our farm such as sheep, cattle, and pigs. My father has been raising sheep my whole life. We started raising cattle and pigs when my brothers and I joined 4-H. Living on a farm and caring for animals has taught me many responsibilities. My family and I attended the United Methodist Church in Silver Lake, Indiana for several years. Our church shared a pastor with the Athens United Methodist Church in Athens, Indiana where I was a member of the church youth group. The youth group participated in many fun activities and community service projects. When I was twelve, my family and I began attending the Beaver Dam United Methodist Church in Akron, Indiana. I am very involved with the children at church. I have volunteered to work in the nursery several times, I was a Bible school teacher, and I helped teach Sunday school to young children. I began attending Akron Elementary School in Akron, Indiana when I was six years old. In elementary school, I was a member of the Countdown Club, and I played on the fifth grade girls basketball team. After completing the fifth grade, I then attended Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, also located in Akron, Indiana. During middle school, I attended FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) for three years. I was also a cheerleader in seventh grade. In
Autobiography 3 2003, I became a student at Tippecanoe Valley High School. Throughout high school, I was involved in cheerleading and the FFA (Future Farmers of America) all four years. I also served as the FFA sentinel my senior year. I was part of student government, pep club, varsity club, and the I.C.E. (Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education) program. Being a part of cheerleading for five years has been a big part of my life. Starting in the seventh grade, I wasn t sure that cheerleading was right for me. I wasn t an outgoing person and getting up in front of a crowd was kind of scary for me. However, when the opportunity to be an eighth grade cheerleader came around, I couldn t imagine not trying out; So I did, but I didn t make it. I figured cheerleading just wasn t for me, and I had no intentions of ever trying out again. Going into high school my freshmen year, I knew I wanted to get involved in sports and clubs. I realized how much I missed cheering in eighth grade and decided that I wouldn t let my bad experience of not making it in the past affect my decision to try-out again. Determined to make it, I worked extra hard and did the very best I could at try-outs. My hard work paid off, and I made the freshmen cheer squad. I continued cheering all four years of high school. I realized how much I enjoyed being a cheerleader and cheering in front of a crowd. Knowing I wouldn t be able to live without it, I never again questioned if I should try-out for cheerleading. I became very dedicated to cheerleading and my team. I was awarded with several awards for cheerleading including: two mental attitude awards, a booster club award, two top base awards, and a spirit award. Cheerleading wasn t just about yelling in front of a crowd for me, it was so much more. From being a cheerleader, I learned about hard work, responsibility, dedication, and loyalty to my team. Cheerleading had made me more outgoing. It has taught me that working as a team requires cooperation and sacrifice. Being a cheerleader has had a big impact on who I am today.
Autobiography 4 One of my many accomplishments is being a part of 4-H for ten years. I was a member of the Beaver Dam Better 4-Hers club all ten years. I gave many demonstrations at our club meetings, I was selected to give devotions and health and safety reports, and I also served as the club secretary. I was involved in several community service projects throughout my ten years of 4-H. Some of these include: helping hands, supplying items for a local food pantry, adopting a family at Christmas time, and singing Christmas carols to residence of a nursing home. I dedicated my time to help serve people in our 4-H club s food stand at the fair. I was involved in many projects throughout 4-H including: sheep, beef, swine, scrapbooking, foods, gift wrapping, photography, and weather. I have learned many things from 4-H such as leadership, dedication, and achievement. During my senior year of high school, I was part of the I.C.E. (Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education) Program. I.C.E. is a program that allows a student to attend school for half a day and then go to work. I worked at the Wee Care Daycare at the Akron Church of God in Akron, Indiana. Through this job, I was able to work with children of all ages. I worked primarily with the three to five year olds and the school-aged children. While enjoying my time, this job influenced my decision to become an elementary school teacher. I was involved in Spanish all four years of high school. I was able to participate in many activities including: ESL (English as a Second Language) childcare, teaching Spanish to elementary school students, teaching students about Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos, and being a pen pal with an Hispanic student from the middle school. I also wrote a children s book in Spanish and read it to younger Hispanic students. Through Spanish class, I was able to attend many interesting field trips which taught me more about the Spanish culture. One experience that was
Autobiography 5 lots of fun for me was teaching elementary school students how to speak Spanish. Every Tuesday during my senior year of high school, I would go to the elementary school to teach students. It was a lot of fun to think of creative ways to teach Spanish. After teaching once a week for the entire year, I realized how much I taught the students and how much they actually learned from me. It was a great experience that also had an effect on my career choice. Two events in my life have deeply affected who I am today. On July 11, 2003, one of my classmates was killed by an automobile while riding his moped to a friend s house. Cody Jewell was not only one of my classmates, he was also the twin brother of one of my very good friends. This incident had a very big impact on my life as well as the community. From this, I learned that anything can happen, any day to anyone. Therefore, I don t take for granted my family and friends, and I am thankful for everyday with them. Another event that has also affected me happened on November 13, 2006. Another classmate of mine was killed in an automobile accident. Patrick Day was in a severe accident on his way home from a party. The accident happened less than one hundred feet from his home. Again, I learned how important a life is, and how important the choices are that I make every day. Patrick was very well-liked by everyone who knew him. He was one of the nicest people I have ever known. Patrick had many friends because of his kindness to others. His death deeply affected everyone who knew him as well as the entire community. After these events in my life, I have realized that I must live each day to the fullest and never take anything for granted. I am thankful each and every day for the people in my life. I am currently attending Manchester College, planning to graduate in 2011 with a bachelor s degree in elementary education with mild interventions. I chose Manchester College because of the friendly community, caring faculty, and the short distance from home. I am
Autobiography 6 currently participating in the Indiana Reading Core Program which allows me to help elementary school students with reading. I am also a member of the Indiana Student Education Association. I look forward to participating in many other activities at Manchester College. There have been many ups and downs throughout my life; however, I believe I am very blessed with everything I have and everything I ve experienced. I have learned many valuable lessons that I will continue to carry with me throughout the rest of my life. I hope that I am able to be successful in my future. My plan is to graduate from Manchester College with a bachelor s degree in elementary education with mild interventions. I hope to attain a teaching position in an elementary school around my community. Later, I plan to further my education by obtaining a master s degree in education. One of my biggest goals to fulfill in life is to have my own family, a successful career, and lots of happiness.