This Week We Feature Young Professional Ashley N. Kelly
When you see her, your eyes behold grace, poise, beauty and a strong string that says “here is a young woman whose life story I’d love to take pages from as a guiding light to success”. When you speak to her you say to yourself, “The epitome of an ambitious and focused young woman and the quintessence of purpose”.
Today we feature her as our Young Professional for this week because she is more than what one sees in just passing by and tenfold more than what you’ll hear from her lips in a brief conversation. She is one of the Virgin Islands stars that have just started to twinkle. She is Ms Ashley N. Kelly.
Born in Bronx, New York, USA, Ashley N. Kelly spent her early years there where she attended elementary school. She later moved to Tortola, VI at the tender age of 8 where she lived with her late Grandmother Grethel Stoutt and aunt for about a year and a half before her mother Gleneth Pickering permanently moved back home to Tortola, VI.
“I have an older sister and two cousins that I call sisters because we grew up extremely close.”
Many would recall her attending the St George’s Primary school where she graduated as Salutatorian in 2002 before moving on to attend the BVI High School and graduated from 5 Accounts.
“I was very attracted to sports at a young age because it was a great outlet and it helped me meet a number of friends that I still share a strong bond with today,” she told us.
Her love for sports and her exploits in it resulted in her attending the University of Illinois on a full track and field scholarship. She graduated in 2012 with a BA in Sports Marketing and is currently pursuing a Master's of Science Degree in Sports Business and Global Media from New York University.
“I decided to continue my education when I was offered an opportunity to pursue my professional track career in New York. New York University is one of the top programmes in the US and they offer a wide variety of educational and networking opportunities to aid you in breaking into the industry. I am interested in broadcast journalism and Public Relations, New York is the biggest media market so I definitely want to take advantage of this opportunity,” said our Young Professional.
She further noted that her current career goal is making a living by doing what she loves, which is running track and field, as she is currently training in hopes of making the 2016 Rio Olympic Team and having the chance to represent the VI.
She told us of being blessed with a number of influential figures in her life. “My high school coach Willis "Chucky" Todman helped me to understand at a young age that I was talented and opened my mind to the opportunities track and field was able to afford me. As I continued on my college coach Tonja Buford-Bailey helped foster my goals and pushed towards stepping up my performances to an elite level.” Moreover, my parents Gleneth Pickering and Collins Kelly consistently pushed me out of my comfort zone by telling me I should go after something that I am passionate about,” she added.
Five to ten years from now she hopes to be an Olympian and decorated elite athlete and also sees herself as an on-air broadcaster covering Olympic Sports and the NBA for a major media company. “Ten years for me is somewhat early, but I probably may have started a family of my own or preparing for a small family,” she added.
Ms Kelly said that if she had to choose another field of work other than her current aspirations, she may choose to be an accountant. “My mother and sisters all posses degrees in Business and Accounting so I think I would have followed that path if I didn't get involved in athletics.”
Of her social side, Ms Kelly said she could be described as the kind of laid back girl. “I am not a habitual party animal and with training and school I have little time for extracurricular activities. I enjoy hanging out mainly when I am reunited with my best friends. My friends and I live in so many different states so when I do have a mini reunion I enjoy it. I enjoy shopping, travelling and reading, it is crazy that I read so much for grad school. I still manage to fit in at least 2 books a month. I am really a weirdo to some of my friends because I enjoy going to the movies alone or I will sit at home watching Youtube makeup tutorial and practicing it on myself,” she said.
Speaking of some of the most influential persons in her life as heroes, she gave much credit to her parents as she said they both taught her the meaning of hard work and always gave her the opportunity to experience the world the way they weren't able to at her age. “My Grandmother was also my hero. I encountered a woman of much strength and tenacity. She was a woman that always left a lasting impression with those fortunate to meet her,” she added.
If given an opportunity to talk to a group of youths, she said the topic would be self-confidence and thinking outside the box. “I believe a lot of our youth have low self-confidence and don't live up to their potential. It is important for individuals to believe in themselves and stay determined so that they can achieve whatever passion God placed in their hearts. It all starts within. In addition, I believe that our youth aren't knowledgeable about what the world has to offer and the opportunities that they can capitalise on. If they think outside the box more and saw their world as more than just Tortola, they would attack life differently, take advantage of gaining experiences that will help cultivate them into great men and women, the men and women we need to help continue to make our island a better place,” said our Young Professional Ashley N. Kelly.
“I believe my relationship with God and myself defines me. I hold my keys to my success by how hard I am willing to work towards my goals and working on having my faith be greater than my fear, I know that with God I can do all things and I take that with me through all my endeavors.”
17 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Ashley N. Kelly”
Go Ashley, they can't stop you. We love you.