The Role Model In You – Ashley Crossman, Entrepreneur, Stylist, Writer, Trainer, Designer, Producer, Model

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Role Model
The Role Model In You
Today’s Guest – Ashley Crossman

1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?

Ashley Crossman a multi talented artistic Entrepreneur, Stylist, Writer, Trainer, Designer, Producer, Experienced Model, National title holder, Event and Marketing guru. Lost over 100lbs and beat stage 3b cancer.

2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?

It wasn’t any one person, I didn’t know much about healthy eating or that being heavy was bad. I grew up in a southern home with all the traditional cooking included. My mother loved me as I was and would never have said anything about my weight or anything I ate. It wasn’t until I was in the 9th grade and going to a New school Walker Memorial Academy. They where vegetarian and had a philosophy behind it. You need to tread you body well because it’s a gift and what you put in it madders.

3. What did they do to inspire you?

They Inspired me mostly by example. No one ever said a unkind word or lead me to feel out of place, but I was. I felt it myself. They where all in shape healthy active and FAST! I realized how slow I was and it was because of the extra weight I was carrying around. I was more like one of the old teachers then one of the young students and I didn’t like that. So, I started looking to see what are where doing right, I was doing wrong?

4. How did their lesson change your life?

Watching how Walker Memorial Academy treated the students with a all vegetarian diet and had all ages have outdoor activities. Even though the amount needed to graduate is only 2 years they encouraged everyone to always get out and be active. They even had a special period in the afternoon just for working outside in the court yard. I loved this it was a optional class; I could work outside or if I had a lot of school work I would go to free period and work on it. It helpped me make good decisions for myself and now I fell I am more well equipped as an adult because of it.

5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?

I try to convey their message by example and with my personal cause G.A.R.D.E.N.S. ; Growing Awareness Regarding Diet& Exercise by Nurturing Seeds. I have developed this cause to help spread the message that it is important, easy and fun to get out, grow plants, and be active. I speak publicly in schools and at community events such as the annual Earth Day festival at the Jacksonville Landing. It was during my rain as Miss Earth Atlantic Beach I started Gardens with the goal to bring garden boxes to schools and in class rooms. I believe that teaching children at a young age the importance of nutrition and imprinting a love for nature is the key to beating childhood obesity along with a lot of the medical problems associated with it. In addition to public speaking I have hosted a Earth Hour walk, beach cleanups, and I have begun a Recycle/ Green effort award. The award is to recognize people and businesses that are doing positive things for the environment.

6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?

Get Out There! Get outside see what is in your neighborhood and community. Ask your parents to take you to the state park not concrete theme park. Wonder about things like, how did that grow, or where does that come from? Then go out there and find out. It’s a lot of fun you can visit farms to see how ice-cream is made and drink fresh milk. That is my message to youth just feel the drive to explore the outdoors. In my opinion the only thing that is keeping the majority of children from this type of experience is from a lack of wonderment. The generations before are the ones that hold the responsibility to set the spark in the next generation. Let’s all do our part.

7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?

ashleycrossman.com