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Ashley Rhodes-Courter

by Alisha from San Diego

"Beaten, starved, forced to squat for long periods"
This is Ashley Rhodes-Courter (http://www.delbourgo.com/our-authors/ashley-rhodes-courter/)
This is Ashley Rhodes-Courter (http://www.delbourgo.com/our-authors/ashley-rhodes-courter/)

"Adoptions are like delicate gardening with transplants and graphs. Some are rejected immediately. Mine took hold, rooted, and bloomed...but I can't forget where my roots started..." (Rhodes Ashley). Ashley was born in North Dakota she ended up living in Florida. Ashley was taken from her biological mother and was placed in a foster center. Within the next nine years, Ashley experienced beatings, verbal abuse, starvation, loneliness, punishment, and lived with a pedophile as a father. Ashley Rhodes-Courter was a foster child by three years old. She lived in at least fourteen different households by the age of nine. At the age of twelve, she was adopted by Phil and Gay Courter. She managed to start her own successful life. She was responsible and strong-hearted because she could have given up on her life; because she felt like she had no reason to try. She stayed in school, and was managing to deal with all of the struggles life threw at her. Ashley possesses responsibility and is strong hearted therefore, she is a hero. Ashley is a hero to me because she was a foster child and this could affect your childhood by not having a stable parent to have around you in times of need.

Ashley in Africa working on her children's litera (http://www.rhodes-courter.com/about.html)
Ashley in Africa working on her children's litera (http://www.rhodes-courter.com/about.html)

Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a strong hearted girl because she had a hard childhood and had the strength to try to help the other foster children. While she was a child, she was tossed around through about fourteen different foster homes. One of the parents was an abusive father, and the other was a pedophile. "At the age of three, Ashley was taken from her biological mother by the Florida Child Welfare System and placed in foster care. Ashley never again lived with or saw her biological mother"(ALAN online). Because she was taken, this affected her as a child and adult. At age three though nine, she lived in fourteen different homes. Ashley still went to school when she was growing up, so she was independent and strong. "In college, Ashley spent time in Africa working with a Children's Literacy project" (Ashley Rhodes-Courter). She is strong because in 2009, she took a trip to Africa by herself, and researched a literacy project. Because of her childhood, she did not want to be held back because of her schooling. Ashley is strong hearted because she did not give up hope of her own life just because her childhood was rough.

Ashley in school (http://www.dosomething.org/ds-award-winners/ashley-rhodes-courter)
Ashley in school (http://www.dosomething.org/ds-award-winners/ashley-rhodes-courter)

Ashley is responsible because she had taken responsibility and is responsible for her own actions and decisions. She took her own road to start her own successful life. She published her own book. "Three little words are about her adoption life, she expanded her essay into a memoir" (Three Little Words). This book and memoir was written about her adoption day, she took time out of her life to express her feelings. If she felt like she didn’t have a say, and have an impact on other children like her in their life, then she wouldn't have made her own book. She also took her own road in life to be who she wanted to become; she did not want to be held back. "With a double major in communications and drama, a double minor in Political Science and Psychology" (Ashley A Rhodes Courter Biography). She made her own decision, and was responsible to make an effort in her own learning. If she felt like she wasn't important, and couldn't do anything in her life, then she wouldn't have her own potential to do anything. Because of Ashley's hard-life as a child, she became strong and believed in herself

this is Ashley and her adoptive parents (http://adoptionnutrition.org/nutrition-profile-4/)
this is Ashley and her adoptive parents (http://adoptionnutrition.org/nutrition-profile-4/)

Because of the loss of hope, trust, and love from her mother, Ashley felt alone and became afraid but independent. From all of the lies, abuse, and lack of safety, Ashley has become strong. Because Ashley went through hard-ships, she felt it was good for herself to write her feelings in a memoir. Ashley inspires me because my mother was also a foster child and she shared how hard it was for her to grow up in many different households. She said "it took a lot to let go of the past and go on with your life as an adult with no "mother or father" figure to look up to." Ashley was rejected, pulled from the roots, and bloomed in her own garden. She spoke of her brother's mistreatment, "like having his head dunked in the bathtub until he nearly drowned and having hot sauce poured down his throat" (Rhodes Ashley) is what Ashley saw every day.

Works Consulted

"Adoption Nutrition." Foster Child Care Nutrition, n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2011. .

ALAN online. An Interview with Ashley Rhodes-Courter, n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2011.

Ashley ARhodes Courter Biography. senior leadership, n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2011. .

"Ashley Rhodes-Courter." Rhodes Courter , n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2011. .

Three little words . foster friends, n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2011. .

Page created on 4/28/2011 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 4/28/2011 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

Cyndi's list- Adoption - an adoption website
Three Little Words - Ashley's book on sale

Extra Info

Ashley has been featured on Montel Williams, The Today Show, Good Morning America, $.99 Cool Ranch Doritos bags, and many local television shows. Ashley loves to tell her story and share hope with other foster children and encourage adoption and permanency.
 

Author Info

Ashley Rhodes-Courter is now older and is supporting herself by all of her hard work in schooling. Her foster parents still support her in all she does.