From Heritage to Higher Ed: Ashley’s Journey at Georgetown
By Amaya Ashanti Brown
For Ashley Scarpone, the path to Georgetown began long before she set foot on campus. It started at home, where a first-generation Hispanic family taught her that education is both a privilege and a promise. Her mother moved to the U.S. from Venezuela, making Ashley the first generation in her family to grow up here. “What I had was grit, passion, and resourcefulness,” she explains. “Every first opens doors not just for ourselves, but for our families and communities.”
That perspective has guided her every step. Perseverance is not just something she talks about, it’s something she lives. For Ashley, obstacles are chances to grow. The sacrifices her parents made, and their belief in her potential, gave her a deep sense of humility and determination that she carries into her work today.
Now a student in Georgetown’s Integrated Marketing Communications program at the School of Continuing Studies, Ashley sees her heritage as inseparable from her graduate experience. “It pushes me to step out of my comfort zone,” she says. “It reminds me to lead with authenticity and responsibility in every space I enter.” Being able to speak both English and Spanish has also been key. It allows her to tell stories across cultures and connect with professors and classmates in ways that feel personal and meaningful.
Her culture shows up in both small and big ways. Sometimes it’s as simple as cooking meals and sharing them with friends, or speaking Spanish at home with her Hispanic roommate. Other times it’s more visible, like when she steps into leadership roles. As Vice President of the Communications Social Network and Marketing Director for GradGov, Ashley uses her platform to make sure diverse voices are represented and heard.
The journey has had challenges. Last summer Ashley was taking three graduate classes while working a full-time internship and keeping up with networking. What kept her steady was her support system. Her younger sister helped her stay grounded, and calls with her mom back in Miami reminded her why she was doing it all. “Hearing her tell me how proud she was kept me
focused and guided,” Ashley says. Staying organized and talking things through with her family made it possible to keep moving without losing sight of her goals.
Ashley says her heritage will keep guiding her as she moves ahead. Empathy, cultural awareness, and resilience are the values she resonates with most. “This degree is more than a personal milestone,” she says. “It is a celebration of my family’s sacrifices, a way to honor them, and a step forward for the legacy of my Venezuelan roots.”
Her story shows that heritage is not something you celebrate for one month and move on. It lives in everyday moments: the meals she shares with friends, the conversations she has in two languages, and the determination of a first-generation student building a future that honors both her family and her community.
For more about Hispanic Heritage Month and resources at Georgetown, visit the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access. To explore national events and stories, go to https://latino.si.edu/learn/teaching-and-learning-resources/hispanic-heritage-month-resources