Ashley Herrington considers herself lucky.

She knows exactly what she wants to do with the rest of her life — and how she’ll do it.

“It’s a huge feeling of accomplishment,” the UI sophomore said. “I’m still young, and I’m already doing what I love. I wish more people could say the same thing — that they do what they love and they do their passion for a living. I truly can say that now.”

Herrington has been dancing for more than 14 years as a student and a teacher, while simultaneously incorporating her skill in statewide and national beauty pageants, including Miss Iowa and Iowa’s Perfect Teen.

“My mom just kind of put me in it and told herself that she was pretty much living her dreams through me,” Herrington said, noting that she started dancing at age 5.

Last year, Herrington joined Black and White Dance Company — based in Muscatine — after seeing a flier in Halsey Hall. Sarah Swanson started with the company at the same time, and she has developed a strong friendship with Herrington and the rest of the dancers.

“We really lucked out because you don’t always get that when you throw people together randomly,” Swanson said.

After a year of 20-hour-a-week practices, Swanson said Herrington’s dedication is obvious.

“Obviously, she’s incredibly hard working,” she said.

Herrington’s best friend, UI student Tine Schempp, has danced in classes with her since they met in ballet class last year.

“As a dancer she is very outgoing,” Schempp said. “She’s really good with emotional expression. You can always see [it] in her face while she’s dancing.”

Even though professional and academic dancing demand very different approaches, Herrington — a high-spirited and giggly 19-year-old — has acclimated well to dancing for pay.

“It was an easy transition,” Herrington said. “We do ballet and modern at school, and then in the company, it’s jazz and Broadway music. So it’s really versatile, and I think it’s good exposure for me for whatever I choose to do from here out.”

And while dancing professionally and full-time may seem attractive, she said she wants to focus on finishing school first.

“There are certain things in school that I can’t get in the real world yet,” she said, noting that her studies in business could be something to fall back on, especially given her dream to open a studio some day.

But while her legs are strong and her joints limber, Herrington will keep dancing — hopefully at Disney World or on a cruise line, she wishes.

“It’s not something that a lot of people do, but there’s still competition for it,” she said. “People still want to do it.”

Herrington’s success has endowed her with an uncommon confidence and insight into not only her own passionate vocation but the dreams of others as well.

“The biggest thing is not to give up,” she said. “There are a lot of great people out there who are fighting for what they love to do. If you never lose sight of your goals and your dreams, you should accomplish anything that you set out to do.”