
Ashley Mishelle Gonzales Ramírez
Birthday: December 4
Institution: America Latina Institute -11th Grade
Degree Focus: Bookkeeping
UT201801GA
Ashley Gonzales
My mother and I learned about Engadi Ministries through our neighbor, whose son attends the Derek Program. When I learned about what Engadi Ministries does through the scholarship program, I became interested in getting a scholarship. I pride myself on always doing my best to get good grades, and I stay very focused on my studies.
My mother works selling a Salvadoran street food called “pupusas.” She does this work to support herself and me and all my siblings. My father does not live with us. He left when I was 5 years old and that is why we have always been short on money, I started working when I was 14 years old. Soon I moved on to a permanent job, but I have been disappointed because they underpaid me because of my young age.
I have always liked numbers and that motivated me to choose my current career pathway in accounting. Someday I would like to enroll in the university to study Auditing or Administration. One of my great motivations for becoming a professional is that I do not want to be limited to only being able to take certain jobs because I do not have a degree. Of course one of my goals is to help my family to have a better finances, since over the years I have seen how my mother struggles to provide the basics. That helped me realize that study is indispensable, in order to have a better life. I have always wanted to study, but financial limitations have prevented me, so I am grateful that now I have been given the opportunity to continue studying.