Newcastle student admitted to Harvard
For most students in small-town Texas, the idea of attending Harvard University remains just that—a dream. But for Newcastle High School senior Ashleigh Taylor, that dream became a reality when she received her acceptance letter from the prestigious Ivy League institution on Dec. 12. Overwhelmed with emotion, she broke down in tears as she told her father, Jerry Taylor, her greatest supporter throughout her academic journey. “Dad, I got in!” she said.
Ashleigh’s journey to Harvard was not an easy one. The senior class at Newcastle Independent School District consists of just 14 students, making her accomplishment even more remarkable. While she had joked about going to Harvard as a child, she never thought it was possible for someone from such a small school—until two years ago, when she met Nickolas Ellison at a University Interscholastic League meet. Nickolas, who graduated from Woodson High School in 2023, earned a full scholarship to the university. Seeing his success, Ashleigh realized that if he could do it, so could she. With encouragement from her father, she made it her mission to push herself academically and pursue her dream.
“I always try to take the most advanced courses, the most rigorous coursework,” she said. “I wanted to push myself as far as I could go.” That mindset led her to excel in mathematics, her favorite subject. “Math just clicks for me,” she said. “It’s black and white. There’s no in-between, no bias. Once you understand it, you can do it.”
Ashleigh’s passion for math was nurtured through her participation in UIL academic competitions and advanced coursework.
She credits Latrisha Strawbridge, her math teacher in elementary and junior high schools, for her success in advanced math classes.
“She is such a kind and patient teacher who is willing to take the extra step of preparing students that not many teachers are willing to take,” she said.
By her junior year, she had completed all the math courses offered at her school, taking dual-credit classes and stacking multiple courses to challenge herself. Her UIL coach, Ms. Bozeman, played a significant role in sharpening her skills. “UIL pushed me to think outside the box,” Ashleigh said. “There were calculus-level problems I was solving as a sophomore.”
Her rigorous prepara- tion paid off when she scored a perfect 36 on the math section of the ACT. “I was shocked,” she said. “I was focusing on improving my reading and English scores, but then I saw the perfect math score and thought, ‘Okay, I’ll take it!’” The application process for Harvard was another challenge. In addition to excelling academically, Ashleigh had to distinguish herself through personal essays, extracurricular activities, and recommendations. Her personal statement focused on an experience in junior high when she lost a close friend after standing up for a transgender classmate.
“That moment shaped who I am,” she said. “It taught me the importance of kindness, of standing up for people who are overlooked.” That philosophy extended into her volunteer work as a tutor, where she helped students grasp complex mathematical concepts. “I’ve been tutoring for seven years,” she said. “I don’t charge for it because I feel that if I can help someone, I should.”
Beyond academics, Ashleigh’s involvement in cheerleading, student council, and her church youth group helped shape her into a well-rounded applicant. Her faith played a significant role in her resilience, particularly during a difficult period last year when her parents divorced. “I was at a low point, overwhelmed with coursework and personal struggles,” she shared. “Finding my youth group was a breath of fresh air. It reminded me that no matter what happens, things will work out in the end.”
Despite her impressive achievements, Ashleigh doubted her chances of getting into Harvard. The average ACT score for admitted students is between 34 and 36, and she worried that her 33 wouldn’t be enough. “I kept thinking I didn’t meet the criteria,” she said. “But it’s not just about test scores. It’s about dedication and standing out through your work ethic and passion.”
Her hard work and perseverance paid off—not only did she get accepted to Harvard - she received a scholarship that covers 96 percent of her expenses.
“It was cheaper than any state school I applied to,” she said. “It was a blessing.”
Ashleigh plans to major in mathematics at Harvard, with a possible focus on quantum physics. She is also considering careers in actuarial science or investment banking but remains open to exploring new paths. “I don’t want to limit myself,” she said. “I want to try different things and see what I feel called to do.”
Her advice to other students dreaming of something big? “Don’t limit yourself,” she said. “If you want to be an astronaut or go to Harvard, don’t let your background or circumstances stop you. Write down your goals, take steps toward them, and believe in yourself. The possibilities are endless.”
As she prepares for her move to Cambridge in the fall, Ashleigh remains grateful for the support she received from her family, teachers, and community. “My dad always had faith in me,” she said. “And my teachers put up with me asking for feedback on my essays every single day. I feel like small towns bring a sense of community that bigger schools can’t offer.”
She also said that “having a support group that believed in me and would support me no matter where I was at or what I would end up doing” was crucial, as was “having that dedication to push yourself even when you don’t want to.”
“More times than not, I was not motivated to do my work,” she said. “It was just me simply promising and keeping that promise to myself that I’m going to keep working. I’m going to keep pushing myself, even if I hate what I’m doing, just keep going because it’s only temporary. Everything’s temporary. So you have to push yourself to the fullest while you still can.”
From Newcastle, Texas, to the halls of Harvard, Ashleigh Taylor’s journey proves that with determination, resilience, and the right support system, no dream is too big to achieve.