Every two weeks, the Patriot will randomly pick a student from the directory, find out more about his or her life, and prove that every student has a story.
Junior Ashley Markley’s life couldn’t have been scripted.
As the daughter of parents in the military and the girlfriend of a young man in the Air Force, Markley has seen the dramatic effects of military life.
Markley compares her life to the character Savannah in the movie “Dear John.” For months, she has written letters to her boyfriend Jordan Purcell in the Air Force.
Markley met her boyfriend through her older sister April, but his military training has driven them apart. On March 10, she is flying to Texas for his graduation from basic training. However, after that meeting, she won’t be able to see him again until May.
Markley’s family life has the same degree of drama. While in the military, Markley’s mother, Tammy, was kidnapped and taken hostage in Panama. Her mother was accused of “betrayal” by the Panamanian government. The conditions were “horrible,” said Markley. Her mother was stuck in a humid jail cell with only enough food to survive.
Markley’s mother was blindfolded and videotaped, as proof of her survival, and the hostage video of her was later shown on Fox News. After six days in a jail cell, Markley’s mother was finally released.
At JC, Markley’s life is a bit more subdued. She’s active in the school plays and has had speaking roles in “Beauty and the Beast” and this weekend’s “Seussical: the Musical.”
“My story is definitely different, but my entire life is all about optimism,” said Markley.
Taylor Schafer and Joey Hoff can be reached for comment at [email protected] and [email protected].