Ashley Risk landed her dream job.

The 2008 Solanco High School graduate started her first year working full time for the school district as a physical education teacher who splits time between Quarryville and Providence elementary schools.

She is exactly where she wanted to be.

"I feel really, really blessed because I can remember playing softball, and I had always had a wonderful experience with teachers, staff, and all of the students in the Solanco School District," said Risk. "I can remember mostly when I was playing softball, I loved how the community and everyone around you was so supportive. For example, softball games, we didn't just have friends and family there. We had teachers, we had staff members, hall monitors. We had people from the community, grandparents that weren't even our grandparents, but they would come watch. And I just remember being so supported, and I just remember how special that was. And that's something that I hope I can give back to my students, and then also I hope that my children get that experience, too."

After graduating from West Chester University, Risk worked as a substitute teacher before raising and homeschooling her four children, Scarlett, Maxum, Penelope, and Masen.

Last March, Risk worked as a long-term substitute teacher at Quarryville and Providence. "The timing was perfect," Risk said. When that position came open on a permanent basis, it was a no-brainer for Risk to apply.

"Out of high school, I was kind of between being an art teacher or a (physical education) teacher," she said. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I was focused heavily on softball and all of the fun things when you graduate high school. Then I decided to take some courses, and then after that, I decided to pursue a career in health and physical education, and that's what led me to the opportunities that I have now."

She enjoys teaching physical education. "I get to have fun with the kids, but I also get to teach them the importance of being healthy and how to create healthy habits," Risk said. "Also, I feel like the one subject that will affect them for their entire life."

Risk is working two and a half days at Quarryville Elementary (QE) and two and a half days at Providence Elementary, and each week she splits the final day of the five-day cycle at QE in the morning and Providence in the afternoon.

"I actually really enjoy it because I get to teach pretty much half of the kids in elementary for the school district," Risk said. "I enjoy getting to know all of those students, and it's kind of fun for me to bounce back and forth between the two schools. It's a little more prep (work) to have two gyms and offices, but I kind of like that it keeps me on my toes a little more."

Risk credits her teachers at Solanco with being excellent role models. "Part of what has gotten me here today would be the influential teachers that I have had in Solanco," said Risk.

She mentioned the late Nancy Kreider, an elementary school teacher; middle school teacher Diane Overly; and high school instructors Dawn Kreider and Kristen Testerman.

"Someone that also made high school very special would also be (former Solanco softball coach) Brett Miller," said Risk. "I played for him for a lot of years, and he wasn't just a coach. I learned so much from him. All of them have influenced me so much in my career and just life in general, and I just would like to thank them."

She also says her beliefs have shaped her and also played an integral role in putting her in this position. "My faith is pretty much what has brought me here," said Risk. "God has always been my strength, and through every circumstance He has provided and been my stronghold all of my life, and I just hope to share that light to everyone around me."