Karsen Kelley

Karsen Kelley – Pennsylvania
Nomination & Photography by Sherri Fox Photography
Issue 57 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: I've known Karsen since she was a little girl. Recently I had the privilege of watching Karsen as the maid of honor in her sister's wedding. Her speech was awe inspiring and I realized how much love she has for her family and others. She extends that love to others in her community where she volunteers. When she was little, she started her first business at age 5 selling lemonade and cupcakes. Her business name was sweet cheeks. Her sewing business she started at age 12. When she was 15, she had the opportunity to learn a new culture and lifestyle when her family moved to Thailand for 6 months. I am very proud of her and find her passion and love for life inspiring.

Photography by Sherri Fox Photography

​Tell us about your business adventures.
I began running my own “businesses” when I was just 5 years old. It began with lemonade stands, 25 cents a cup. Then I moved towards baking, selling cupcakes from my yard. When I entered elementary school, I started selling pencils and school supplies to my classmates using things I already owned. From the money I earned from this I purchased items to make custom crafts I had my classmates design, and I would make. In middle school I began sewing, which opened many opportunities for me. It's easy to say I was an entrepreneur since I was born!

What did you learn about yourself during your times in business?
I learned I’m not someone who can be happy with myself when I am sitting still. I have to keep moving up the ladder of life. Keep climbing and climbing until I reach my goals, which is what I have been trying to do for as long as I can. The only issue with this is the farther up I climb the bigger my dreams become!

What was the hardest thing about setting up shop and how did you get around it to still have fun and keep going?
It’s important to find a balance in all things in life, even outside of business. You have to find a good routine that allows you time for work and for fun. Making sure you are still working but not becoming physically or emotionally exhausted from it. Keeping time for yourself helps make you enjoy what you do. And if you don’t love what you’re doing, what are you doing it for?

Are you in business now? What are you doing?
Right now I work for Starbucks which has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have met so many wonderful people. This company has so much room for growth which allows me to keep working and keep moving up. It is very fast paced which keeps me busy and happy.

If you could pick any business to own and run today, what would it be and why?
I am not completely sure right now. I am so passionate about so many things it is hard to choose! I have wanted to be a baker, a seamstress, a cosmetologist, a barista and so many more. All I know is whatever I choose to do in any field I want to make sure that my work touches the lives and hearts of people I come across. Whether that means cutting their hair, making their wedding dress or making them their favorite latte! It is important to me to pursue not only the happiness of me but the happiness of others, I believe this makes a successful business.

Photography by Sherri Fox Photography

How did you find and why did you choose Sherri Fox Photography for your senior photographer?
Sherri Yon has been a wonderful friend to me and my family for as long as I can remember. She has such a warm personality that helps people feel at ease. Senior pictures can be stressful, so I trusted her to help ease that stress, which she did. In some of my pictures I'm laughing from having so much fun!

What was your planning and photoshoot experience like? What did you love most about it?
Planning was very easy; Sherri has amazing quality photos that were worth the trip to Virginia! The shoot was fun and enjoyable, most moments I forgot why I was even there. I think what I loved most about the experience is that I felt very comfortable and felt I had some control in what I was doing.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be?
I feel passionate about making others happy. It has become a big part of my life and my own happiness. Wanting to help others has affected what I do for work and how I work. I chose a job where I would be able to connect with people and help bring some joy to their day. Even when I myself am having struggles I always feel my best when I am volunteering and making the best out of someone's day. I can truly say that my compassion for life and others has sculpted the way I live and think.

Photography by Sherri Fox Photography

​What else should we know about you?
When I was in sixth grade me and a few other classmates recognized an ongoing issue of pollution in our community, we began our research of what pollution was and how it affects the planet. Even as young as we were, we were all so passionate about the cause. We got sponsors and supplied our community with reusable bags and bottles. We made presentations about our research to teach others about how serious this issue is. We did everything we could to raise awareness for an issue we felt, and still feel is important to us. We held the event on World Ocean Day.

Is it something you could do every year to make a tradition in your community?
This was a tradition in our school for the sixth graders for many years and each year I would come support in any way I could. But sadly after I moved the teacher that helped us organize it retired and I’ve heard that the school no longer hosts this. But it would definitely be something I would be excited to teach others in hope we could start again!

What do you think the usage is now between plastic bags and reusable bags in your community?
I currently live in Pennsylvania and we still have plastic bags here. It makes me so sad when I see them in the street or in the gutters! My sister and brother in law live in New York and plastic bags have been banned there and replaced with reusable or paper. It is so nice to see stores taking action against this issue which is affecting all of us!

Photography by Sherri Fox Photography

​What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I am honored by the nomination I have received, but I am afraid that the truly inspiring part of me is my family. I was given two wonderful parents who love me unconditionally. I have a sister who has been self driven since before I could walk, I’ve never met someone who could so confidently follow her own path. My brother is filled with adventure and love, he looks for the best in everyone. I alone am not inspiring, but I am the product of an inspiring family who loves me and paves my path as I reach my goals.

What are your favorite things to do with your siblings?
My sister and my brother are my best friends in the whole world, even when we fight over clothes I know that they are the people I will have forever. My favorite thing to do with them would either be taking car rides or our signature home alone night. Anytime us kids would have the house to ourselves my sister would take us to the store and we would get a chicken, and make mashed potatoes and green beans and have brownies for dessert. Then we would just watch movies together. But no matter what we are doing, nothing makes me happier than being with them.

What is a family tradition you hope never ends?
Every year my family holds something we call a treasure hunt. My parents always made it really fun and interactive. They would make a treasure map and hide clues around the house and yard. We would have to follow the map and clues and when we reached the end we would find gifts for us! We still do it to this day and this is the first year we get to have my brother in law join.

What are you most looking forward to doing this summer?
Sadly my brother is spending the summer in Germany. I am really excited for him but he is my best friend and I will miss him so much. I plan on spending lots of time with my sister and brother in law. But most of all I plan on spending time with my parents. They are truly amazing people and definitely the coolest people in the world. But this fall I start college and I will be very busy so I want to spend this summer making as many memories as I can with the people who love me the most.

Look for Karsen in issue 57 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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