CARL E. FEATHER / Star Beacon
KELSEY PALMA earned the Outstanding Scholar trophy from Braden Junior High. The North Kingsville resident has set a goal of being the valedictorian of her Edgewood Senior High Class in four years.
Two in a row:
Braden student maintains 4.0 GPA during her two years in junior high
By CARL E. FEATHER - Staff Writer - cfeather@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
“She’s very well-rounded,” said Patsy.
This summer, Kelsey is taking three classes through the Allegro Program, held at the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School. Her choices: Japanese, art and robotics.
“I like robots,” said Kelsey, who was wearing a retro-robot design T-shirt.
Neither Kelsey nor her parents can identify the source of her unconventional fascinations or motivation. Bucci says Kelsey is a perfectionist and that trait drives her to be the best, regardless of her pursuit.
“When she gets a B or C on a test, she gets really upset,” Patsy said. “She’s really hard on herself and she will punish herself.”
Kelsey has broad goals for her life that require self-discipline. She already knows she wants to be the valedictorian of her class.
“I want to be successful. When I get out of high school, I want to go to college and get a good job,” Kelsey said.
She has no idea what that job will be, but her mother feels Kelsey would do well in any career that involves helping others, such as being a counselor.
That image clashes with her outward appearance.
“If you saw her on the street, you wouldn’t think that she’s a straight-A kid,” Bucci said.
Patsy feels her daughter’s style causes some students and even teachers to wrongly assess her.
“A lot of people look at Kelsey and label her,” Patsy says. “They don’t get the chance to know the person. Kelsey gets a lot of heartache from kids at school. She wears a lot of black and piercing. They just look at the image.”
“I’m really not goth,” Kelsey said. “I just like to wear the stuff. People label me like that, and I don’t like it.”
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