A Fighting Aggie of the class of 26, a Biomedical Engineering major from Waco who hopes to go into Cancer research, Ashlyn also loves spending time with her friend Taylor and her cat.
Ashlyn had always been involved in faith communities that were big on rules and being the right kind of person. This meant that she couldn’t fully be herself and has to hide parts of who she is to fit in and not cause issues. She joked once about communism and got a sit down talking to by leadership. She was never able to fully be herself and was told if she tired or prayed hard enough her “issues” could go away.
Ashlyn found Treehouse through a guy she was dating who was the friend of a former Treehouse student who got married. “I saw Pastor Jerry at the wedding,” Ashlyn remembers, “and I thought, he is really colorful and seems very welcoming.” After getting fed up with the rules and unhelpful leadership of her last faith community, she and Taylor decided to give Treehouse a try.
“I like that there is free food.” Ashlyn stated, “In other groups I have been a part of they wanted us to bring our own food. Someone cared enough to make us a meal. Everyone here is very accepting and welcoming. I can be who I am here and not have to worry about having an intervention. You are accepted as you are.”