Young Mother Paves the Road to Vet School
By Brooke Manuel, Skyline Editor
ALPINE – Starting college in the middle of the pandemic with a five-month-old baby to take care of was a lot to juggle, but despite the obstacles she faced, Ashley Maldonado, a recent Sul Ross State University graduate, finished her bachelor’s degree with honors and accomplished a multitude of things along the way.
Less than a month after graduating summa cum laude with her bachelor's degree in animal science from SRSU, 24-year-old Ashley Maldonado has been invited to interview at five veterinary schools. Over the next few weeks, Maldonado will be traveling to attend interviews in Minnesota, Mississippi, Illinois and Texas.
When asked how she is feeling about her potential career advancement, Maldonado said, “I’m very grateful for the opportunity, because not many even get the chance to interview. It’s a 5-10% acceptance rate for out-of-state applicants.”
On top of the 15-21 hours of coursework Maldonado took per semester, she was also a member of the Alpha Chi honor society, the president of the Block and Bridle Pre-Vet Club her last semester at Sul Ross, a McNair Scholar and a regular volunteer at the animal shelter.
Struggling to find decent childcare in a new town and dealing with her husband being laid off during the pandemic were among the obstacles Maldonado faced as an undergraduate student.
Maldonado commended many of her professors for understanding her situation and allowing her to bring her daughter, Dharlyn, to class. This is a decision Maldonado’s professors would not regret as Dharlyn would sit quietly in class and play on her iPad or color in her coloring books.
The first three years of Dharlyn’s life consisted of attending class, visiting the Range Animal Science Center to check on the horses on which Maldonado conducted research, cleaning the stalls, and subconsciously, and most importantly, learning the importance of resilience from her mother.
Dharlyn celebrated every achievement alongside her mom, even as difficulties continued to mount.
In addition to the issue of childcare, Maldonado’s husband was laid off from numerous jobs during the pandemic and to make ends meet, Maldonado started a small business selling personalized door hangers, cups, keychains and engraved pet tags.
Finances were a true struggle at times, but she did not let that stop her from chasing her dreams. She would even walk to campus to avoid missing class on the mornings her car refused to start.
When asked how she was able to juggle so many things at once, Maldonado spoke of her husband Hector.
“I wouldn’t have made it this far without the endless support of my husband,” Maldonado said. “He not only has provided for our family but also encouraged and pushed me to my greatest potential in times when I felt defeated. He is definitely my biggest fan, and I cannot wait for the day when we can say ‘We made it.’”