Junior year is often considered the most demanding stretch of high school—a year of heavier coursework, looming college decisions, and an endless cycle of practices, meets, and games. For Byron’s Ashley Potter, though, this moment feels less like a burden and more like a proving ground. Balancing AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, and Anatomy with cross country, track, cheerleading, and a full slate of clubs, Ashley represents what makes Byron’s students extraordinary: the ability to pursue excellence without losing sight of joy.

Academically, she’s set a blistering pace. She has two AP exams behind her, both with perfect scores of five, and more to come in statistics and biology before graduation. Ashley thrives in the challenge of higher-level math and science, and has competed at the state math competition. “I like math more, but there are more opportunities with science,” she explains, keeping her future options open while leaning into the disciplines that call to her most. She’s already considering schools like UNC Chapel Hill, while leaving room for exploration of others that may offer her both rigor and financial support. What’s certain is that she is positioning herself for impact in a field where analytical sharpness and a spirit of discovery matter most.

But Ashley’s world is not confined to textbooks. Sports give her an entirely different sense of purpose. Cross country is her favorite—though it often gets labeled as punishment in other sports, Ashley sees it differently. For her, the forest preserve trails, the camaraderie of her teammates, and the rhythm of racing toward a personal record combine into something deeply rewarding. “My motivation can only go so far,” she admits. “Having my friends alongside me makes all the difference.” Track offers a similar outlet, with Ashley competing in the 400 and now transitioning to the 800, often running as the third leg in the 4x400 relay. Her coaches, Katie  Roush and Mike McHale, recognized her ability to surge past opponents and strategically placed her where she could flip expectations. “Most teams put their slower runner third,” she says with a grin. “But for me, it was about passing as many people as I could and setting up the anchor for the finish.”Ashley has received all-conference honors and has competed at state in both cross country and in track.

Cheerleading adds yet another layer. Since seventh grade, Ashley has been a steady presence at football and basketball games, leading crowds in songs and chants, carrying forward traditions that knit Byron together. “I like the spirit,” she says simply. “It’s really fun. And I like all the girls on the team.” Though she stepped back from competitive cheer, she embraces the role of bringing energy to the sidelines and pride to her community.

Clubs extend her impact even further: Math Team, ACES, Student Council, United Sound, and National Honor Society, where she serves as a junior officer on the executive board. With so much involvement, one might expect her to be laser-focused on GPA calculations, but that’s not Ashley’s way. “I strive for A-pluses, but I don’t look at how it affects my GPA,” she says. It’s not indifference—it’s perspective. She trusts that hard work and balance will take care of the rest.

That balance, in fact, is part of the wisdom she has already gathered. If she could go back and advise her younger self, she says she’d remind her to “have more fun. It’s not that serious.” For Ashley, fun is not frivolous. It’s essential. It’s the energy that makes long practices worthwhile, the laughter that makes hard classes bearable, the spark that makes even the toughest challenges something to be grateful for.

Her outlook is deeply influenced by family. Her father, an accountant with a gift for numbers, instilled a work ethic and a love of math. Her “papa,” her grandfather on her mother’s side, left a lasting imprint on who she is today.  “He would always tell us every day, ‘learn something new and talk to more people.’ He was very big on communication and striving to learn something every day.” Those words remain with her, a compass for how she approaches not just academics, but life. And then there’s her mom, the trusted confidant who provides support through every high and low, and the circle of friends who keep her motivated in running, learning, and living fully. “I rely a lot on my friends,” Ashley says. “My victories are shared with them.”

It’s that mix—high standards, joyful balance, community ties—that defines Ashley’s Byron story. She may one day build prosthetics, conduct biomedical research, or chase discoveries in another corner of science altogether. She may attend Chapel Hill, Northwestern, or another top university. But wherever she goes, she will take with her the lessons of growing up in a place where people know one another, care for one another, and show up for one another.

For now, Byron gets to watch her run—sometimes literally, across finish lines and down relay stretches—but always toward a future that is bright with promise, grounded in gratitude, and lit by the joy she insists on carrying with her every step of the way.