Naturally Surviving

Ashley Thomas didn’t wait for permission to take her next step—she made the decision to invest in herself. In this episode, she shares how she went from high school chemistry teacher to doctoral candidate, all while balancing work, life, and the emotional weight of the dissertation process. We talk about what it really means to bet on your future, why group coaching changed everything, and how she learned to ask for help without shame. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth it to invest in support—Ashley’s story will show you what’s possible when you do. Dissertation Information Qual Scholars Community: https://qual-scholars.circle.so/ 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: https://qualscholars.com/10pages/ The Finish Your Dissertation Institute: https://qualscholars.com/theinstitute/  Qual Scholars Website: https://qualscholars.com/  Qual Scholars’ Instagram: https://instagram.com/qual_scholars/ Ashley Thomas (She, her, hers) I am Ashley Thomas, a native of Atlanta, Georgia. I have been a teacher for 19 y