After completing high school, I knew that I wanted to take my dance to the next level and to continue to pursue my passion for performing. I just wasn't completely sure what arena I wanted to put myself in. I contemplated auditioning for multiple college dance teams or getting a major in dance performance. I never thought that I might want to dance for a NFL team.

But, when I competed at the MA Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Dance competition in Dallas, Texas during March of 2007, I began to change my mind. That was the first time that I saw the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform! Then when my high school dance team won a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders competition, I had an opportunity to perform with the Cheerleaders at their 2007 Halloween halftime. I also performed with my dance studio at Thanksgiving halftime the next month. Having the opportunity to perform alongside America's Sweethearts helped me make the decision to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and want it even more!

I knew I was very young and that the audition process was going to be overwhelming and certainly nerve wracking. After all, I was only 18 and auditioning for a world renown organization. Their style of dance was certainly different from what I was used to, so I attended prep classes in the spring to help me better prepare for the upcoming audition.

I made it through the first two rounds of auditions and began to prepare for the final audition. It seems like only yesterday that I was nervously trying to perfect my solo and interviewing skills for the final round. A few days before the audition I was running through my solo and realized I just didn't have the strength to finish the routine. I thought that maybe I was just exhausted and my nerves were starting to kick in, but little did I know that there was something else that was going on. After my panel interview I went home to rest, because I felt terrible. I thought to myself, "Come on Ashton, you can't be this nervous, you are too close to let your nerves get the best of you." I woke up a few hours later with a fever of 105 and pain all over my body. I was taken to the emergency room and informed that I wouldn't be leaving the hospital any time soon.

Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to the finals. It was definitely the hardest experience I have been through. I am the type of girl that wants to finish the job. I had a hard time not knowing what could have been and facing the fact that I was not going to be dancing during my first year in college.

When you are 18 sometimes you think that your world is crashing before your eyes, but little do you know that everything happens for a reason and there is a perfect plan for each person. I did not get to finish the process the first time around, but today I am happy to be a part of the squad!