For the eldest child of a family it can be rough: the first to experience high school, the example that parents use for younger siblings, and balancing life all-around. Sophomore Kelsey Soehnlen is managing her life while participating in extracurricular activities, sports and family life.
Soehnlen is the oldest child of three with younger siblings Greg, 13 and Katie, 11. She enjoys spending time with her family and tries to help around the house. Mrs. Mary Beth Soehnlen, Soehnlen’s mother, feels she is doing a good job.
“She is a role model, even if she doesn’t know it,” Mary Beth said. “She is good with both of them and she spends time with them and offers advice.”
According to Soehnlen, when she is not at school she enjoys hanging out with friends, shopping and playing volleyball. She also participates in Leadership and Spanish Club.
“Kelsey is disciplined in the way that she balances everything,” Mary Beth said. “She gets good grades while playing volleyball year round and keeping everything together.”
Soehnlen played many sports as a child but decided to be a setter on the volleyball team in the end and her love for the sport has blossomed.
“I try to go out and play my hardest every game while trying to be positive and I tell myself to ‘give it my all,’” she said.
Soehnlen’s coach, Miss Lindsay May, said she is privileged to have met Soehnlen and has watched her talent grow through her high school career as a setter.
“I’m proud of her on the court and in the classroom, and how she represents North Canton City Schools,” she said. “She is a very kind person and goes out of her way for others.”
According to Mary Beth Soehnlen, Soehnlen practices year round and became a better player.
“She has grown as a volleyball player,” she said. “It has made her more confident in herself and she has taken more of a leadership role. She is disciplined and works hard.”
May agreed she is growing as a leader.
“She shows teammates that even if you are already good at a sport, there is always room to improve,” she said. “On and off the court she knows what’s wrong and what’s right.”
Soehnlen’s personality shows when she is with friends and family, but also while playing volleyball.
“She is a very shy, quiet girl,” May said. “But she shows leadership, athleticism, intelligence and that is important as a setter.”
Soehnlen said she appreciates May’s help and said she has made her more communicative while being there to help and being encouraging.
When Soehnlen is not in the classroom or on the court she is spending time with her friends.
Sophomore Elise Criswell and Soehnlen have known each other since middle school and ever since they have been best friends.
Soehnlen said Criswell can make her laugh and she can trust her with anything and Criswell feels the same about Soehnlen.
“She inspires me to be a better friend because I see how good of a friend she is to me,” Criswell said. “She does what a friend is supposed to do: makes life fun.”
Soehnlen said she tries her best each day and tries to be helpful to others around her.
“I try to live every day to the fullest,” she said. “I can always tell myself it could be worse if I am having a bad day. I appreciate my friends and family because they are always there for me.”
Mary Beth Soehnlen said she feels Soehnlen has grown drastically as a person due to everything in her life. She said she still holds some characteristics from when she was a baby.
“She has always had a sense of humor and she is able to laugh at herself,” she said. “Kelsey is really positive and goes into each day with a smile on her face.”
Mary Beth Soehnlen supports Soehnlen in everything she does and helps her balance her life. They get through everything together, and Soehnlen said that her mother inspires her the most because they can relate to each other.
Soehnlen tries to give advice to others who are feeling down while keeping her own head held high.
“She is a trustworthy and fun-loving person,” Criswell said. “She will always listen and have a response. Kelsey is very friendly and welcoming to all and people can be comfortable around her.”
Since Soehnlen and Criswell have been best friends since middle school, their relationship has grown and Criswell feels it is strong.
“If there is one thing I could change about Kelsey, I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said. “If I would have never met Kelsey I would have missed out on a lot of fun things in life.”n