On the golf course, every hole is a fresh start. One off swing in a previous hole doesn’t define the round. There are chances to adjust, recalibrate and try again. For senior Ashley Mo, this philosophy shaped her on and off the course, from writing poetry to leading a team and navigating the ins and outs of life. 

“I believe in branching out, because there may be things you end up being very passionate about, but you would only know if you tried,” Ashley said. “Golf opened my eyes to a new sense of freedom to try because you’re not just subjected to one path. There’s many ways you can win and bounce back. With every hole you’re given the freedom to try new swings and techniques, which is so unique.”

What initially drew Ashley to the sport wasn’t the physicality, but the way it rewarded mental fortitude. She watched role models of professional female golf athletes push through and win with willpower. Over time, golf became a home for her: a place to decompress amid academic pressures and connect with teammates who share the love for the game. 

“If I didn’t have golf, I genuinely don’t know what I would do,” Ashley said. “Being with friends I’ve connected with on such a deep level has given me so much calmness to my life. We’re bonded by a sport that’s so mentally challenging, and even though the team changes each year, our collective passion for the sport still continues. As teammates come and go, I try to hold on to the qualities I really enjoyed about them, and then emulate those to the new faces.”

Whether it’s blasting music on Sprinter rides to tournaments or swapping stories between holes during league matches, Ashley formed deep friendships through the sport. Now a captain on the varsity girls golf team, she carries that same empathy into mentoring newcomers, as she reassures them after difficult rounds and reminds them that there are always more chances ahead. 

Close friend senior Mindy Truong watched Ashley carry her steadiness beyond the course and into their friendship. 

“In high school, she’s gotten a better sense of herself and how she wants to navigate her life,” Mindy said. “She feels confident in making decisions that will lead her to better places. I’m always amazed by how she balances everything really well together while still being an amazing friend. Ashley is a really great listener, and when I’m opening up to her, she always listens first, which is so valuable.”

Ashley hasn’t always had an easy relationship with golf. Years of competing in individual tournaments came with high pressure that took a toll on her. But after joining the high school team, she now views the sport less with the goal to win but more as a game to enjoy. 

Since then, she’s experienced some of the her memorable moments on the course. During League Championships in her sophomore year, the team qualified for States by a single stroke for the first time in Harker history. 

“That difference of one stroke is truly so powerful,” Ashley said. “My coach always says, ‘You’re always still in it. Never give up until the last hole.’ That mindset of determination and perseverance was such a formative experience that shaped who I am today. When we were called up when we qualified for the state championships, everyone was crying. Everyone was so happy to make history with our school.”

The resilient mindset Ashley developed through golf carries naturally into her writing. This same willingness to experiment and try new approaches drew her to poetry, where she could play with form, white space and line breaks in unique ways. 

Through summer writing programs, Ashley found a community built around language and pushed herself to explore topics like death and the passage of time. She was selected as one of six poet laureates for Santa Clara County and launched a multilingual anthology project, in which she aims to bridge cultures through shared writing. 

“With poetry, you have all the space you want on a page,” Ashley said. “Being able to be creative is really something I enjoy about poetry. I’ve always been interested in culture and how language can bridge people but also can serve as a barrier. With the multilingual anthology project, I hoped to use language as a bridge to share writing. I really like the idea of preserving the memories I’ve made with other people through writing and being able to see their work.”

Her instinct for sharing stories extends to her role as an Editor-in-Chief of the Winged Post. She collaborates closely with Winged Post managing editor senior Jonathan Szeto, who was her co-STEM editor in junior year. 

“Working with her is very collaborative and productive,” Jonathan said. “She’s always open to new ideas, particularly when we’re working on page designs. We’re not afraid to share what we’re doing with each other, even if it might be a bit outlandish. She’s very judgment-free, and she also is respectful of other people’s opinions and will ask for advice. She is always willing to go above and beyond to do as best as possible.”

While journalism connects Ashley to a broader audience, poetry offers a more intimate space for vulnerability. She turns to poetry when she’s alone, deep in thought or wrestling with questions about culture, family and identity. Sharing these poems aloud once felt daunting, but over time, she found her voice. 

“Over time, I realized that people in the writing community are very supportive,” Ashley said. “As I’ve gotten older, it’s been really fun for me to share my work through speaking and having people resonate with my words in real time. Also, hearing other people’s poetry is very inspiring, and always pushes me to continue writing. Hearing that people my age are able to express emotions so clearly and portray certain ideas very movingly inspired me to do the same.”

Ashley’s enthusiasm in all her interactions is hard to miss. Math teacher Bradley Stoll, who taught Ashley in her junior and senior year, recognizes how she fully engages herself in the work she loves. 

“She comes in with a positive attitude and is smiling all the time, and I can see when she’s having fun,” Stoll said. “When I get to chaperone the journalism trips, I can tell she has this very bubbly personality. It’s always nice to see her doing things that she really enjoys and is working hard for. Ashley sets high expectations for herself, but I’d just keep reminding her to merge what she really enjoys doing with what she’s good at, and she’ll have a lot of fun.”

From a sixth grader on the middle school golf team to varsity team captain in high school, Ashley has poured her energy into every step of her journey. Coach Ie Cheng watched the transformation unfold for seven years. 

“She really understands what it means to be part of a team and lead a team,” Cheng said. “She knows if she wants to do great things in life, she has to be a team player, and I truly believe she is completely ready for the next chapter of her life. All the pieces from everything she’s worked for are all coming into place. I am super proud of how much she’s grown, on and off the course.”