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Ashley Clark - A Toro Through and Through

With just eight matches left in her Toro career, senior Ashley Clark soon will be looking to life outside volleyball
CARSON -- Senior volleyball outside hitter Ashley Clark is set to play her final volleyball home match on Saturday, November 6, before concluding her collegiate career on November 13, at Sonoma State.  In her 4+ years on the Carson campus, the liberal studies major hasn't enjoyed the success on the court she had hoped when the Bakersfield native joined the Toros, but her growth and successes off the court have been immeasurable.

A CSUDH Presidential Scholar from Centennial High School, Clark currently is in her third year as President of the CSUDH Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which has blossomed under her leadership.

Scheduled to graduate in December of this year as a liberal studies major, Clark herself has blossomed as a student, athlete and leader, and looks forward to acquiring her credential from CSUDH en route to her ultimate goal as an algebra teacher.

We spent some time with Clark, who takes the Torodome floor for the final five times this season, beginning Friday against Cal State Monterey Bay.
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Talk about your emotions coming into your final season, and now that you're past the halfway point.
Coming into this season I was filled with excitement for a great year.  We worked hard over the summer with our summer workout programs and even did extra workouts together as well.  Mostly I was excited to see new faces and talent in the gym, but personally I had mixed emotions because it was going to be my last season.  I knew that after the season was over that my collegiate volleyball days were over.  Now that is a scary thought. 

This team and program have been my life for the last four and a half years; and when it's over, I have to start a new chapter in my life.  I struggled with this thought over the summer because I love volleyball and I've given everything I have to this program in order to improve, make a difference, and affect change.  I wanted this last year to be about doing better than last year, leading the team, especially the freshman, and teaching them the things I've learned. 

Now that we are more than halfway through this season, I'd have to say that it hasn't been quite what I expected.  Although we haven't won as many games as we expected, this year has given me the opportunity to help my teammates learn and understand what they need to do in order to be successful competitors in this conference, and I wanted to serve as their mentor. 

I've had many conversations with my teammates and I've discovered that I've left an impact on them.  The impact I've made on these girls is something that I will carry with me forever, and it's my hope that they both apply what they've learned from me, then continue to pass it on to others.  In this way, I've accomplished what I came here to do, which is make a difference and affect change.
 

Has your experience at CSUDH been what you expected coming in as a freshman?
My experience here at Dominguez Hills has been so much more than what I expected as a freshman.  I had no idea what this school had to offer and what was in store for me.  This school and the experiences I've encountered have taught me about people, relationships, life, and myself. 

In the past four and a half years I've learned lessons about how to take charge, how to talk to different people, how to be proactive and get things done, how to make healthy lifestyle choices, how to deal with relationship issues, and how to be a better and more helpful person.  Not only have I been able to learn these lessons and much more, but I've also found care and support from many people on campus.  I loved my experiences here and I am very thankful for the opportunity to play collegiate volleyball and go to school at the same time.
 
 
What are the three top things you'll take away from being a Toro?
The three most important things I take away from being a Toro are making healthy choices, understanding that everything is a process, and that you always have a choice. 

Being a part of this team and playing for Scott Davenport have taught me the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices.  I have learned a lot about eating healthy and leading a healthy lifestyle from my coaches and many other members of the Athletics staff and faculty.  For the rest of my life I will be able to make healthy decisions and take action. 

Over the last five years I have learned a lot about process and how everything is a process.  I was forced to learn to be patient with the process that was occurring within the team.  It's important to focus on process because it's about how you get to your final destination, rather than the final destination itself.  If you go straight to the product, you miss all of the process in between.  The process is where you do the most learning, and it's when you grow the most. 

I've also learned, while being a Toro, that I always have a choice.  I always knew I had a choice, but the concept didn't hit me hard until now.  I have a choice to do anything I want or to do nothing at all.  I have a choice to work hard at what I do or not.  I have a choice to treat people nicely or poorly.  I have a choice to make a difference or let things stay the same.  The fact is that I can choose whatever I want, but my choices will affect me for the rest of my life in one way or another.
 

Can you recall your funniest / most memorable road trip moment(s)?
There are so many funny and memorable moments that I couldn't even begin to describe many of them.  There are a ton of moments that I will remember forever: from late night talks in the vans on the way home, to seeing half-naked men walking around in San Francisco, to saying random things about people, places, and animals.

One of the funniest moments happened this year when we went to Cal State LA.  Celeste got subbed into the game to serve and play defense, but on her way to the service line, she tripped and fell flat on her face.  Just a few seconds later the ball got tossed to her to serve and she bounced it onto her foot causing it to roll away so that she had to chase it.  We were all laughing so hard that some of us even starting crying.
 

What are your plans after graduation?
My plans after graduation are to get a part or full time job and get into the Credential program here at Dominguez.  Once I get into the program and complete it, I will be on my way to teaching either elementary or middle school.  My ultimate goal is to teach Algebra, but I might end up in an elementary school first.


Talk about your experience as the SAAC President these past 2.5 years 
I've had a blast the past two and a half years serving as the President of SAAC.  One of my passions is community service and helping those in need.  This position has given me opportunities to meet a lot of people throughout the state of California and has allowed me to help others and serve in the community. 

Being President had its challenges, but the experience was amazing and well worth it.  I loved getting to know the other athletes on campus at the meetings and I loved getting people involved.  Each and every year our committee has improved in raising money for the Make-A-Wish foundation and getting involved more on campus.  I am very proud to say that I was a part of the improvement and success of SAAC in the last three years and I hope that the success continues to grow long after I'm gone.
 

What would you say to high school students that would make them want to come to CSUDH? 
I would tell them that CS Dominguez Hills is a great school because it is a diverse community with a great campus life and supportive faculty and staff.  There are tons of different people who attend this University, and the campus life gets better and better every year. 

The students and staff are always finding new ways to bring the campus community together and to get people involved.  As far as the faculty and staff, they are so incredibly helpful and supportive.  They try their best to give you the information and tools you need to succeed, and they support you throughout your journey.


What do you think senior day will be like?
I think "Senior Day" is going to be amazing, but also bittersweet.  It is a celebration of the work and dedication that I've put into this team and program over the last five years, but it is also the last day I will compete in the Torodome as a member of this volleyball team. 

I am so excited to see my family and my teammates' parents who have supported me through the last five years.  And, my sister Danielle is going to sing the National Anthem. 

It is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life and I am thankful that I was blessed enough to share the day with such a wonderful family and team.  I am sad to say good-bye to my team this year because I love them so very much and I am sad to say good-bye to games in the Torodome. 

Senior day is going to be very hard for me because I have such an emotional attachment to the work I've put in to this team and to the girls who I've played with this year and the past couple years. 

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