Who is Kelsey?
We all have something we feel defined by—a job, a title, a relationship role, etc. For Kelsey, it was being a student-athlete. In many ways, Kelsey felt like her worth was tied to her productivity. Growing up playing softball, Kelsey was ultimately recruited to play D1 softball at North Carolina State. Her identity felt shaped by the labels she wore: a Division I athlete, student, researcher, and volunteer.
But in 2021, everything changed when a career-ending concussion ended her athletic journey and nearly led her to leave school. Faced with pain, confusion, cognitive symptoms, and the loss of the identity she once took pride in, Kelsey spent nearly 10 months recovering from the head, neck, and jaw injury. During that time, she made a powerful mindset resolution to rebuild her identity beyond the labels she had always relied on—a mindset that changed the trajectory of her life.
Fast forward to 2023, Kelsey graduated with her social work degree and was chosen to deliver a commencement speech to almost 20,000 people. The speech went viral online with over 50 million views worldwide. After receiving messages from viewers across the globe and invitations to speak, Kelsey began her speaking career. Today, she travels the country inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to live beyond labels, navigate life’s changes, and embrace their unique stories—sharing her message with universities, businesses, nonprofits, and more.
Faith
My faith is the center of my identity and my foundation. It is where I draw my strength, joy, peace, and purpose from. I hope to reflect the light of Jesus in what I share and the person I try to be.
Family
My close relationship with my family has shaped so much of who I am. They are my biggest supporters and greatest blessing. I wouldn’t be who I am without them. Here is a picture of some of my family, but not all.
Service
I have always been committed to making service a large part of my life and started volunteering with non-profits regularly when I was 14. I believe it is important to see beyond myself and to impact the lives of others in a meaningful way. I’ve been blessed with resources, education, and opportunities that I want to dedicate to giving back to my communities. I’ve included a page dedicated to causes I care about(hyperlink) and have a personal connection to.
Athletics
I started playing softball when I was just 7 years olf and my dream of playing in college started early! As I grew up, I was fortunate enough to travel all over the country to play softball for, and against, the best. After being recruited to play at NC State, I continued to play softball in college until my injury in October 2021.
Education
I am extremely passionate about education. I grew up wanting to become a teacher and had the opportunity to student-teach preschool, elementary, and high school classes as a junior and senior in high school myself! My pursuits shifted from teaching to social work, but I remained passionate about both education and mental health as I earned my Bachelors and Masters in Social Work from NC State. I hope to both educate and inspire through my speeches, workshops, and coaching! Featured is a picture of me speaking to Oklahoma University’s Academic Advising Department about supporting students.
Goals
My goal is to make a positive impact on the world. I hope to continue speaking, coaching those who want to use their voice for good, writing, and advocating for education and mental health!
