USM鈥檚 Pierce Turns Page on Addiction, Personal Tragedy to Pursue Career Helping Others
Wed, 10/23/2024 - 04:19pm | By: Dr. David Tisdale
鈥淚 used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But I'm not afraid, baby
My rover's crossed over.鈥�
- From the 1930 song 鈥淥n The Sunny Side of the Street鈥�
After looking over her resume, one might assume Ashleigh Pierce hails from the sunny side of the street.
The transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) now pursuing a degree in social work at The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) Gulf Coast brought with her to 51逗奶 Miss a stack of accolades and accomplishments from her former school that would be the envy of any student:
- Excellence in Honors award from the MGCCC Honors Program
- President鈥檚 List scholar
- Selection for membership in Who鈥檚 Who and the MGCCC Harrison County Campus Hall of Fame
- Member of the MGCCC student government association
- Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Golden Key award recipient and PTK Pinnacle member award
- Leader of PTK team that wrote children鈥檚 book featuring Mississippi Gulf Coast beach and seawall
- Graduating with two associate degrees and a certificate
And that鈥檚 just a sampling of what the Bay St. Louis, Miss. native has achieved since exiting the dark road she traveled heretofore that included collisions with drug addiction and toxic behaviors, an arduous battle to secure custody of her children, and recovery from a deep depression following a beloved brother鈥檚 suicide that made her consider taking her own life.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 work, I couldn鈥檛 parent, I couldn鈥檛 wife,鈥� she said of the aftermath of her brother Terrel 鈥淛oey鈥� Paul Lee Jr.鈥檚 death. 鈥淚 was in bed grieving like never before. I could hardly bear the pain; I almost put myself in a mental home.鈥�
To that point, Pierce had been on the path to recovery from addiction, even helping counsel and minister to other women dealing with the same challenges who were incarcerated in the Hancock County Jail for drug offenses, including connecting them with recovery resources, attending court dates with them and helping them to prepare and win their custody cases, all while still waiting to win hers.
鈥淚 thought getting sober and fighting a custody battle to get my children would by far be the hardest things I would ever have to do,鈥� she said. But Joey鈥檚 death proved a major setback. 鈥淚 almost let the enemy (the devil) take me out.鈥�
Pierce鈥檚 recovery group mentor reminded her that the same God that pulled her through addiction and restored her children to her would pave a road leading out of her despair over her brother鈥檚 tragic death.
鈥淎round November of that year, I began to feel it in my spirit,鈥� she recounted. 鈥淛oey and God were both saying to me 鈥楪et out of that bed and do what you鈥檙e supposed to be doing,鈥� I knew, without a doubt, that meant to go and finally start my college education.
鈥淎lthough volunteering and helping others was honorable, I needed the education to back me up and give me the tools I needed to support my family.鈥�
Pierce entered school at MGCCC in January 2022; at the end of that semester, she was placed on the President鈥檚 List for earning a 4.0 grade point average. 鈥淚n that moment, I was confident I was on the path God planned for me,鈥� Pierce said. 鈥淣ow I am so excited to say I am a college (MGCCC) graduate and excited to see what 51逗奶 Miss has to offer me.鈥�
But the rewards for Pierce鈥檚 perseverance had just begun. She earned a scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, established to support undergraduate students with financial need. Cooke, who chose to go to work and help his family during the Great Depression instead of attending college, left much of his fortune to establish the foundation because of his belief in the benefits of higher education. The scholarship frees Pierce of any worries about how to afford school, and it also offers funding to attend conferences and study abroad.
鈥淜nowing I can continue my education at USM without having to take out any loans to pay bills and help support my family is an incredible feeling,鈥� Pierce said. 鈥淢y husband is and always was fully supportive of my desire to get a college degree, but I always felt bad about the financial burden being all on his shoulders. Now we can let go of that stress, all because of the generosity of a man (Cooke) I will never know.鈥�
After earning her degree from 51逗奶 Miss, Pierce says her plans include pursuit of master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in social work, and then to open a facility specializing in addiction recovery and suicide prevention for the Gulf Coast community.
Melody Davisson, a student support specialist and instructor in the 51逗奶 Miss School of Social Work, first met Pierce during orientation season and describes her as 鈥渁n eager student ready to learn and grow in the field of social work.鈥�
鈥淚 could tell right away she was passionate about helping others and would succeed in our program,鈥� Davisson said. 鈥淎shleigh has already sought out opportunities to attend conferences, speak with instructors, get involved within our school, and research opportunities. She wants to study abroad, present at conferences and so much more.鈥�
鈥淭he social work program at 51逗奶 Miss strives to create social workers that want to stay and work in the state of Mississippi,鈥� Davisson continued. 鈥淲e historically have several non-traditional students who have lived life and come back to school. It speaks to Ashleigh's character and her dedication to her family, career, and the profession as to how committed she is to make a difference.鈥�