Get to Know a Garden City Member: Ashley Ricks
Hi, friends! I’m Ashley. I have been attending Garden City since my freshman year at Santa Clara University, where I just graduated this month! College has been a graciously beautiful time, and I adventured richly during it — working with a non-profit in Uganda, visiting family in the Philippines, interning with a social enterprise in Ghana, and studying abroad in Sweden. As I look out into the alarmingly-vast horizon of post-grad, I am excited to be staying in the area working with Corporate Philanthropy at Juniper Networks in Sunnyvale!
I’m from Morgan Hill, but attended Milpitas schools my whole life (picture this: me, at 16, freshly-licensed with a banana in hand, taking on 680 rush-hour in my ‘94 Integra at 7:30am). I have fond memories of big Filipino parties in small backyards throughout my childhood spent in the Bay — complete with a lechon and a 12-pound tray of pancit. Because I’ve grown up here, my list of beloved spots in the Bay Area is long (hit me up for more recommendations!). Here are some favorites:
To play: The Studio Climbing Gym
To eat: Orchard City Kitchen, Taverna
To eat on a college budget: La Victoria taqueria, HoM Korean Kitchen, Milohas: Colombian Empanaderia
To drink: Woof’s Bar (dog-friendly boba place!), Taplands Taproom
To hike: Wilder Ranch State Park (the bluff trail is incredible), Alamere Falls Trail
Despite shelter-in-place, last month my discipleship group creatively celebrated Taylor Buzzard’s birthday! We brought fun party decor to our Google Hangout and took turns sharing encouragement and affirmation for her. It was a sweet time of community even if we were physically apart. SIP has also meant going on more runs and walks than I ever have in my life. Exploring uncharted corners of my neighborhood has been so much fun. It is a time for my introverted-heart to recharge, to listen to music, and to pray. I have also become deeply opinionated about landscaping and front-door color choices.
In light of current events: let's be passionate about cultivating a holy, gospel-centered, active sense of justice in our lives. I’d love to chat more about what this can look like within Garden City and beyond! Please reach out to exchange ideas, challenges, and encouragements.
Love you, church family! Cannot wait to be back together.