Asher Moore never thought college would be a part of his life. He thought it was out of the question for him. Moore is tremendously grateful for NOVA’s advising services that have been a pivotal part of his college journey. Now he’s not only excited about his college career, but he’s excited about the future.    

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background:
I graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 2020. Both of my parents were military and are now retired. I was born in California, lived some parts of my life in Ohio, the Netherlands and now reside in Northern Virginia.

What brought you to NOVA?
This is my first year at NOVA. But a couple of years back, I never knew I would even make it to college. One of the subjects I struggle with right now is math. But I have benefited from tutoring here at NOVA and the advising center.

What are you studying at NOVA?
My major right now is IT, and I am trying to figure out my focus and more of what I would like to do. I am really thinking about changing my career to cinema and careers related to the arts. I love music. I write songs and sing. I love all kinds of media and am a creative soul.

Tell Us About Your Experience at NOVA, i.e., professors you’ve liked and friends you’ve met.
Of course, my professors – like Ms. Lucy Holsonbake. I am super thankful that I can be open and be heard by professors who care. I hear all the time about how college professors don’t care, but I love that she challenges that stereotype. It has just become easier to talk about what I go through. It helps me in terms of advocating for others to do the same thing.

What would you tell a student coming to NOVA?
NOVA’s advising services are really good. They help me navigate what classes would be good for me and not to overload myself. It is to make sure I am in the right frame of mind to tackle these courses. Some of the advisors have offered not to talk about classes immediately but about my mental health. I love how they are approaching me. The disability services have been so helpful with keeping in touch. It is always great to have someone to reach out to, and the accommodations are a huge help for me in some of my classes.

Where do you see yourself after NOVA or what career pursuits are you exploring?
In five years, I want to pursue acting or screenwriting. A side project I’ve been working on is voice acting. I have a couple of dream roles, like Miles Morales from Spiderman. Chadwick Boseman is one of my role models. I want to eventually get into a film school.