Ashley Chompre ’20

Drawn to math and science from an early age, she pushed herself in the IB program at WFS and excelled as a state champion swimmer. She noted that Friends gave her the critical-thinking skills that helped her stay open to new possibilities, even when her path shifted.

At Duke University, Ashley began on the pre-med track, but an introductory computer science course during her first year sparked a new interest. She found the problem-solving nature of computer science energizing and continued taking courses. By junior year, she committed fully to computer science.

Ashley graduated from Duke in 2024 after completing research, on-campus internships, an internship with Workday’s data platform team, and a semester studying abroad in Madrid. She approached the competitive job search with discipline, treating interview prep like a class. After graduation, Ashley moved to California to join Netflix, where her team works on systems that support the “playback” experience for streaming.

Throughout her visit to WFS, Ashley emphasized following one’s curiosity, encouraging students to take a range of introductory courses when they arrive at college, and pursuing internships that provide real-world experience. Ashley also spoke about navigating a male-dominated field and the importance of building community, encouraging students to seek out similar networks. She shared that the habits of questioning, exploring, and thinking deeply, first nurtured at Friends, continued to guide her long after graduation.