ASHLEY’S MANAGER STORY
‘It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters’
We’re so glad you found this story on one of our incredibly impressive student managers– Ashley Creekmore, from James Madison University. Ashley is in the Finance & Strategy Manager role, and is one of seven dedicated student managers cultivating a wonderful, creative community on campus.
I first found out about Student-Made through a message in a Women in Business group chat. There were some manager positions that still needed to be filled before launching at JMU, one of which being the Finance and Strategy Manager. This position seemed right up my alley, so I responded right away and was soon setting up an interview with the founder, Lindsay. After only a few minutes of talking to Lindsay over zoom, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. I was so inspired by Lindsay’s passion for Student-Made and was so excited to join the team, in hopes to inspire others too.
After joining Student-Made, I was continuously inspired by everyone at JMU, as well as the Student-Made community as whole. This community is filled with so much talent and support, it is hard not to be amazed by everyone around you. I was so encouraged by all the incredible creators, and even though I had no experience making anything of my own, I decided I wanted to create something I could be passionate about, too.
I started making rings and it has now become such an enjoyable hobby for me that I would have never started without the support of Student-Made. Being a manager and a creator, at the same time, is such an incredibly rewarding experience. I have gained so much knowledge about how a business works, but also so much life experience. I have learned it doesn’t matter what kind of experience or prior knowledge you have, if you are motivated enough and take initiative, you can do anything you want. It also makes such a difference when you have a supportive community backing you.
A lesson I have learned in life is the value in perspective. Your perspective on something can completely change the outcome of a scenario and the way you view life. In the world we live in today, it is so easy to focus on the negative, but it is so much more valuable to focus on the positive. If you go through every day with the perspective that there is something good in every scenario, you will live a much more fulfilled, and therefore, happier life.
In almost every negative situation, there is a silver-lining or a lesson to learn. So much knowledge can be gained from what may seem like an unfortunate circumstance. If you can treat every adverse situation as an opportunity to learn and improve, instead of as a setback, you will gain so much more from that experience and be better prepared to handle other adverse situations. I carry this mindset into Student-Made, and it allows me to be a better manager for our team. We have had several conflicts arise, but instead of getting discouraged we have learned from them and are now better educated and better prepared to face any other challenges.
One mantra I live by is “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Most of the things around you you cannot control, but the way you react and respond, you can control. Making the way you respond to others a choice, instead of an impulse, will significantly improve your attitude in life. If you make a conscious decision to use your energy on things that are beneficial to you, and not waste it on impetuous reactions to small inconveniences, your life will be filled with positivity and satisfaction.
In my short time with Student-Made, I have already learned so many valuable lessons and been shaped by all of the incredible people around me. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an inspiring and encouraging team and cannot wait to see each and every one of us continue to grow and thrive together.
