Lola Kelly: A Heart for Helping
by Kelsie Scanlon
The moment she walks into a room, something changes. Her energy is impossible to ignore: bright, warm, and contagious. Lola Kelly has a way of bringing life into every space she enters, not because she tries to be the center of attention, but because her genuine kindness and love for others naturally shine through. Lola has always had a heart bigger than herself. Whether she is encouraging her teammates on the soccer field, being a role model for her younger sister, or simply making someone smile, Lola has always had this natural ability to recognize when someone's down, and she knows how to give them a helping hand to get them back up again. Lola's desire to help others is reflected in the way she wants to become a teacher, her discipline as an athlete, and her ability to look for the bright side even when things become difficult.
Growing Up: Family and a Passion for Teaching
Family has played an important role in shaping the person Lola has become. As she grew up in the coastal town of Quincy, Massachusetts, Lola spent warm summer days with her mom, Jessica, and sister, Zia, playing on the beach. Lola grew up living with only her mom and Zia, so the three of them are incredibly close and have an inseparable bond. Lola still loves going to the beach, and it often reminds her of simpler times and what growing up in Quincy was like. Lola loves swimming and how relaxing the beach feels. Being by the water helps calm Lola in an unexplainable way, which is one of the reasons she decided to attend the University of Bridgeport. When she saw that the university’s campus borders the ocean, she became instantly drawn to it.
When Lola was about 16, she began working an after-school job at the same school as her mom, where she truly saw what it meant to work with children. Being around young students and watching her mom interact with them gave Lola a different perspective on teaching. She began to understand that being a teacher was not simply about standing in front of a classroom and giving lessons, but about building relationships, encouraging students, and being someone they could rely on.
When I asked Lola why she wanted to become a teacher, she told me, “I want to make a positive impact on people’s lives at a young age because childhood is such a crucial period of development.” Working that after-school job and seeing the important role her mom played in children’s lives inspired Lola to follow in her mom’s footsteps and become the teacher who cares about and looks out for her students.
Lola’s bubbly, outgoing personality also gives her the perfect characteristics to become a teacher. The best way to describe her is by the color pink, which also happens to be her favorite color. Like the color pink, Lola brings warmth, energy, and kindness wherever she goes, qualities that will allow her to create a classroom where children feel supported, encouraged, and cared for.
Resilience Built by Sport
Sports have played a major role in Lola’s life and have helped her develop discipline. When Lola was a freshman at Quincy High School, she tried out for the school’s varsity soccer team. She wasn’t sure if she would make the team as an incoming freshman because there were countless returning players already on the team who had far more experience playing at that level. To prepare for the tryouts, Lola trained all summer to get ready for the team’s fitness tests and to be able to compete against better players. Against the odds, Lola made the varsity team! She was so happy to have made the team, but sadly, for most of the season, Lola did not receive much playing time. Although she was disappointed, she did not let the lack of playing time discourage her. Instead, she continued to work hard, knowing that every practice was another opportunity to improve.
By her sophomore year, Lola started in most of the games, and she even scored five goals during the season. Lola has dedicated years to soccer, and her love for the game is why she decided to continue playing at a collegiate level here at the University of Bridgeport. Soccer has taught her the importance of commitment, teamwork, and continuing to work hard even when things do not go perfectly. Lola’s positive mindset connects closely with her motto of always looking for the bright side. A mistake during a game or a difficult practice can be frustrating, but she chooses to see it as an opportunity to improve. This mindset is something she has also tried to pass on to her little sister, Zia, encouraging her to find something positive even when things do not go as planned. By focusing on what she can learn from difficult experiences, Lola has developed a mindset that helps her both on and off the soccer field.
Movement, Positivity, and Coping
Running and walking have also become important ways for Lola to process her emotions. As she explained, “I am not the best at talking about my emotions, so running and walking helps me to process whatever’s going on.” Lola admits that she isn’t always the best at communicating her own emotions, and she would always rather help others work through how they are feeling. Running and walking gives her time to think, reflect, and work through whatever she may be experiencing. These activities allow her to clear her mind and return to the people and responsibilities in her life with a more positive outlook.
Outside of running and soccer, Lola also enjoys shopping as a way of decompressing because, as she mentioned to me, “who doesn’t like a little retail therapy?” Lola’s favorite store to shop at is Brandy Melville. Anytime she or Zia had a rough day at school, the two of them would often go to the store to look at all the new clothing releases. Even something as simple as shopping with her sister gives Lola a way to turn a difficult day into a positive experience. Whether she is pushing herself on the soccer field, processing her emotions on a run, or cheering up her sister after a difficult day, Lola consistently finds ways to look for the bright side.
The Silver Lining
Ultimately, Lola's story is about more than soccer, family, or her goal of becoming a teacher. Rather, these parts of her life have all helped shape the person she is becoming. Her positive energy allows her to make others feel comfortable, while her experiences have taught her the importance of discipline, perseverance, and growth. Lola's belief in always looking for the bright side helps her approach challenges as opportunities to learn rather than reasons to give up. Of course, her journey is still developing, but with her heart for helping others and her determination to keep growing, Lola is working toward becoming the person she wants to be. Her story is something I believe we all can learn from, as every cloud will have a silver lining.
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