Around June 8th, 2022, the number one thing I wanted for my birthday wasn’t something most teenagers would ask for. The one thing I really wanted was a job application to work at a bed and breakfast and wedding venue called Ashford Acres.

The reason I wanted to work there so badly was because of my sister. She had been working there for about two years, and I loved hearing all of her stories. At the time, I was only 14 years old, about to start my freshman year of high school. I knew that eventually I’d want a job, and somehow the perfect place ended up being right in my small town of Cynthiana.

Almost every day my sister would come home talking about work. She told me about the beautiful weddings, the magical weekday dinners, the gorgeous rooms guests stayed in, and how special the whole atmosphere felt. After hearing all of that for some time, I knew I wanted to be a part of it too.

So, on my 14th birthday, I opened my sister’s present and was honestly shocked—in the best way—when I saw the job application I had been hoping for. I was so excited that I filled it out right away and made my sister take it with her to work the very next day.

A few days later, I had my first shift at my very first job.

Walking in that day, I felt everything at once. I was nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time. I remember being greeted by the staff and getting a huge tour of the entire house and property. It was honestly even more beautiful than I had imagined.

At first, I was really nervous about working with people I didn’t know and talking to guests I had never met before. Getting out of my comfort zone felt scary. But after doing it a few times, it started getting easier. I slowly realized that maybe I could actually be good at this job.

By the time I reached my first year working at Ashford Acres, I had already done so many different things. I had worked in the kitchen, helped with housekeeping, served guests, and seen so many beautiful weddings. The nerves I once had started to disappear, and I began to feel confident in what I was doing.

As time went on, I learned more and more about every role around the inn. I grew in ways I never expected. I gained confidence, people skills, and work experience that I know I wouldn’t have developed anywhere else at such a young age.

I worked hard to learn housekeeping and became the best server I could be for our guests. I spent a lot of time watching the more experienced staff and learning from how they handled things so professionally. Eventually, I was able to do both housekeeping and serving on my own, and my managers had full confidence and trusted me to handle it in the way I had learned to do so. 

After about two years of working there, something really special happened.

I had gone from being the nervous new kid to one of the more experienced staff members. I remember feeling proud of how much I had learned just from watching, practicing, and growing over time.

When new employees started, sometimes they’d be told, “You’ll be training under Lilly. She’s what we call our “veteran here” meaning she’s been here for a long time and is trained to teach you how to do the job right.” Hearing that meant so much to me. It made me realize that I had truly become part of something bigger.

Now I’m eighteen years old and coming up on my fourth year working at Ashford Acres. Over that time, I’ve made so many memories that I know I’ll carry with me forever.

From working alongside my sister, to building friendships with coworkers, to gaining experience I never expected to have at such a young age—it all means a lot to me. Even the little silly moments after long nights during new events somehow made the hard nights and tasks feel easier.

Ashford Acres isn’t just a job to me.

It’s a safe place where young women like me can grow, learn, and figure out who we’re becoming. It’s a place where confidence is built, friendships are formed, and experiences help shape the person you turn into.

Working here didn’t just give me my first job. It gave me a place that helped shape who I am today—someone who will always cherish the memories, lessons, and opportunities that came from being part of Ashford Acres.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: when you have the chance to be part of something so big and special, don’t hesitate. Just go for it.

- Lilly Hersha