This is who I am
Ashley Wild said she knew she was attracted to women since the fourth grade.
“I guess I always knew I was a lesbian,” Wild said. “When I came to college, I was ready. I wanted to be true to myself. I knew I could be who I really am.”
The South Lyon sophomore said she came out early her freshman year.
Wild said it was easier revealing her sexuality to people she didn’t know because she had nothing to lose.
“I worried about telling people I had known,” Wild said. “They’d already had opinions of who I am. I didn’t want the people I love to turn their backs on me.”
For people she knew, the coming out process proved to be more difficult.
Wild said she kept her sexuality from her mother until the end of her freshman year.
“I hadn’t officially told her yet,” Wild said. “I had started dating a girl, so I had to. It was OK at first. I think the idea of being a lesbian frightened my mom. That’s when she freaked out.”
Wild said she has had an “on again, off again” relationship with her mother throughout her life.
The two haven’t talked about the issue since Wild told her, she said.
“The next time we talked was a forced situation,” Wild said. “Now it’s up to her when she wants to start talking to me again.”
Wild is the co-president of CMU’s chapter of the Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA).
“I’m the person people go to when they have problems,” Wild said. “If something goes wrong or something happens, everybody looks to me to take criticisms and complaints.”
On Wednesday, Wild focuses on GSA responsibilities, while juggling three hours of classes.
She said she spends her afternoons responding to e-mails, organizing the GSA agenda and preparing for the weekly meeting.
Grosse Pointe Woods sophomore Amy Alter said Wild shows a strong passion for the organization.
“She’s the type of person who can take charge and take control of a situation,” Alter said. “She makes things happen.”
Politics is something that sparks Wild’s interest. She said she spends most of her day following and discussing politics.
She said she would one day like to run for a political office.
“Everything we do today is politics,” Wild said. “Relationships and families are being criticized. I want to change things.”
Wild said she ranted for a half hour about Dick DeVos’ debate performance to her girlfriend and CMU alumna Abby Brithinee.
“She is indecisive about a lot of things, but when it comes to politics, she knows her stuff,” Brithinee said.
Brithinee and Wild started dating six months ago. They said music was one of the first things that brought them closer together.
“That’s when I got to know her,” Brithinee said. “She was looking through my iPod and found band after band that we both liked — bands that aren’t popular music today. We had similar tastes in music and every time I think about that and her, I smile.”
Director of Gay and Lesbian Programs Ana Guerriero said Wild always has been a joy to work with.
“She’s vibrant, enthusiastic and very involved,” Guerriero said. “She has provided strong leadership, not just to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender students, but to all students on campus. I know she will go on to do great things.”
