CAPTURING KELSEY: Fierce, Focused, and Full of Heart

Meet Kelsey: Driven, Kind, and Almost 17!

Kelsey is just weeks away from her 17th birthday on May 22 and about to become a senior at Bio-Med Science Academy. She's spent her high school years not just studying, but leading — as part of Student Leaders, Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society (where she’s President!), and even the Drama Club, where she’s held lead roles.

Beyond school, Kelsey is an integral part of Davinda’s Teen Team, a community built on confidence, friendship, and kindness. But what makes her even more special is her place on the Dream Team — a select group of juniors who return to help new girls feel welcomed, seen, and empowered. “Teen Team helped me feel beautiful and confident in a way I never had before,” she says. “That’s something I wanted to help give to other girls.”

Who is Kelsey?

Ask Kelsey what makes her unique, and her answer is simple but powerful: her will. “I’ve got nothing if I don’t have a strong will,” she says. Positivity, for Kelsey, is a choice she makes daily — even when life gets hard.

Kelsey draws strength and inspiration from her younger sister, Kristen. “She’s so outgoing and funny that when I’m with her, I usually find myself becoming outgoing too.” Their bond has even been captured in Teen Team photo sessions — something Kelsey and her family treasure.

School, Dance, and Everything in Between

Kelsey is a competitive dancer and has been part of a studio team since eighth grade. “We don’t compete against each other — we compete together,” she says. “It’s one of the places I feel most myself.”

That same spirit of togetherness is what drew her to Teen Team — and brought her back as a Dream Team member. For Kelsey, photo sessions with Davinda have been healing. I don’t take a lot of pictures of myself,” she admits. “But the ones Davinda takes — they show how I see myself, and how others see me too. It’s a powerful experience that’s helped me embrace my true beauty and strength. It’s how I want to be seen.”

The Teen Team and Kelsey

Some of Kelsey’s most meaningful memories include the Growth Shoot and the Valentine’s Day Shoot — both designed to celebrate emotional strength, love, and personal development. “There was so much purpose behind them,” she says.

Teen Team has helped Kelsey embrace something many girls struggle with: confidence. “Before, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable saying I looked pretty. Now, I can say I do. There’s a difference between being cocky and being confident, and I’ve learned that I deserve to feel good about myself.”

A Future Full of Purpose

Kelsey’s vision has stayed clear: she wants to become a pediatric occupational therapist. Her plan is to earn her associate degree at Stark State, then continue to Muskingum University for her master’s. Her personal journey with pain, perseverance, and healing has ignited a passion for helping children overcome their own physical challenges.

And it’s not just about the future — it’s about the now. Whether she’s leading at school, mentoring girls on the Dream Team, or dancing through pain, Kelsey carries herself with grace, compassion, and an unshakable will.

“If I could change one thing in the world,” she says, “it would be how people treat each other. You never know what someone is going through.”

Kelsey, you are exactly what Teen Team is all about — and the world is so lucky to have you in it.

Although Kelsey’s time on our Teen Team may be concluding we are incredibly excited to welcome her to our Team of Senior Influencers as she steps out of her role on our Teen Team to an even bigger spot on our Senior Team.