This is high praise indeed for the 2007 P. Buckley Moss Society—Anne and Matt Harbison Scholarship winner. Kelley was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was in third grade. Each case of dyslexia is different. Kelley has struggled more with the transposition of words and lines, poor spelling, and reading comprehension. When she was diagnosed, it came as a surprise because she did not understand how someone like her, who made good grades and understood things so well, could have a learning disability. She soon realized that she was putting far more effort into things than other students needed to. She had to read a page many times. She had to study two hours longer than everyone else for tests. She had to use spell check plus have someone else proofread her papers again. However, she said, “I took my weakness in one area and made it a strength in others.”

One ramification of her dyslexia is that she looks at things differently than most. Her non-typical view of things has allowed her to excel in subjects such as math and science and has opened the door to the art world. In addition to working hard academically, Kelley is very active in other ways. She has played volleyball for four years and was voted captain her senior year. She has been involved in a variety of clubs, but her favorite was the Natural Helpers. This involves training and work with other students that need that little extra bit of help with a class, or maybe just a friend. One of her favorite jobs is orientation of new students. “I like to make them feel welcome, and it is always fun to make them feel that they already have at least one friend at their new school.”

Last year she worked with the Special Olympics when her school hosted it. She worked in advance to get businesses to donate money, to get the word out around town, and to help make sure that food and other items would be provided. But the highlight for her was when she helped the participants onto the award stands and placed the award that they had won around their necks. She later reflected about why she felt so drawn to the participants. Though the struggle is different, she recognized that these young people had also accomplished a personal goal to be proud of. She felt excited about sharing their excitement.

One of the keys to Kelley’s philosophy of life is something she and her mother call the “Thumper rule.” In the movie Bambi, the small rabbit named Thumper said, “If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” She sometimes takes this too far since she would much rather help others and be there for them and worry about herself second.

Last fall Kelley was granted early acceptance to Virginia Tech. She is passionate about two potential careers, which are on opposite ends of the spectrum — interior design and special education. Her hands and kitchen counter were always a mess with art scraps. Her main focus this year in a portfolio-prep class has been three-dimensional artwork. She has always been fascinated with shapes and color schemes so feels interior design would be a natural outgrowth of this interest.

On the other hand, she feels that having been in a special education reading class and struggling with dyslexia, she would find it easy to relate to learning different students. Her “gift of dyslexia” is what makes her unique. She noted, “I have accomplished so much despite it [dyslexia] and also because of it...I hope to pursue a career where my dyslexia is a positive influence in my life as well as the lives of others.”

Kelley was nominated for this scholarship by Rachel Nichols, owner of the Apple Barn Moss Gallery.