ashleymagnuson
After 10 years, I recently reconnected with Jumper Ashley Magnuson. She looks the same as she did at age 12—big dimples and friendly smile—when we were kicking soccer balls around the field together in Seattle, Wash. We lost touch in high school and then she went on to graduate from Colorado College where she played Division 1 soccer. A number of years later, I became friends with one of her teammates (and Jumper) Laura Ogden, who helped us reconnect. Ashley has been working for nonprofits since graduating about five years ago, but always felt the need to take a jump—and she did it. (In her spare time, she gives SheJumps advice on becoming a nonprofit. Thanks Ash.) —Vanessa Pierce

SheJumps: What's the biggest jump you've ever taken? Was it worth it? 
Ashley Magnuson: The biggest "jump" I have ever taken took years of mulling over, but I finally made the plunge two summers ago. I had a great opportunity right after college to work for a nonprofit that trained emerging leaders in several different professional arenas. After the fellowship, I had another wonderful job lined up and this time it was in a ski town! Although I was able to log 50 days of skiing during the season, I still knew from the get go that being inactive for the majority of my day just didn't fit my personality. So, I toyed with the idea of joining ski patrol. I even tried out and made it, but I wasn't sure if ski patrol was really what I was looking for and I wasn't sure that it was possible to live on $10 an hour in a very expensive ski town. After turning down the ski patrol job, I spent the entire year wondering if I had made the right decision. I'm not exactly sure what lead to me to "jump," but after going back and forth as to what was really going to make me happy and healthy, I decided to give ski patrol a go. I called the patrol director and convinced her that I was serious about my desire to be a patroller. Because I had turned the position down once before she was hesitant to take me back, but in the end she offered me the job. And today I'm skiing in waste-deep pow, learning new medical skills, and I'm healthier both physically and mentally. Now I just wish I could find a job like this during the summer!

SJ: What's your favorite thing to do if you're not skiing? 
AM: Probably playing soccer, a great dance party, and having a good laugh with my friends.

SJ: What is some advice you would give to wanna-be patrollers or nonprofits like us? 
AM: I'm in my third year and I still learn several new things each day. I guess I would have to say work hard (especially as a rookie), ski harder, and eat lunch before all the wrecks start up!

SJ: What else makes Ashley tick? 
AM: Honestly, if I'm active, I'm a happy person. I love to travel and learn new cultures ... my friends and family are my backbone ... and now I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. How can I make money, be active, and be a productive person in my community?!