“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
— Albert Camus
•••
You don’t have to go far to find a teen Extra Miler in Southern Indiana.
Kelly Allen — an athlete, musician and Jeffersonville High School senior honor student with a 3.9 grade point average — is living proof of a teenager who fits the Extra Miler profile.
Kelly has a vibrant spirit of giving in her soul. A classic example occurred last Halloween. Kelly had befriended Mai, a JHS foreign exchange student and fellow marching band member. Mai was with Kelly when the Director of Bands John Cooksey advised they would be practicing on Halloween night and could dress in costume during practice.
Mai, never having experienced Halloween, asked Kelly why students would dress up in costumes. Kelly explained the concept of trick-or-treating. However, Mai was confused. She said the Japanese people would not hand out free candy to children coming to their homes.
Kelly decided that Mai needed to experience the generosity of her neighbors through the tradition of Halloween and arranged for several neighbors to allow Mai to trick or treat after the designated hours ... in costume. Kelly’s eyes light up and she becomes animated as she talks about how excited her friend was to experience trick-or-treating in Southern Indiana. Mai is now in Japan; however, she and Kelly continue to correspond.
Kelly is very giving of her time and energy. She has been in the Big Brother/Big Sister program for two years and happily describes how proud she is of her “little sister,” Abby, who is now in third grade.
Since eighth grade, Kelly has performed with the JHS band.
Cooksey describes her as, “an extremely talented musician and natural leader.” He adds, “Kelly has an innate ability to know when a person needs assistance or is feeling stressed. She goes out of her way to make them feel comfortable and safe in their environment.”
When asked about the first time she volunteered, Kelly replied: “I went with my grandmother to our church Clothe-A-Child event and it was a lot of fun helping the girl, who was older, pick out clothes.
“That experience left me with a positive memory and a desire to continue helping others,” she said.
Kelly is active in the JHS Anchor Club. The club sponsor, Nancy Molnar, describes Kelly as, “a mature and focused young woman who is an all-around good person.” Molnar adds: “When you give Kelly a project, it is easy to forget about it because you know Kelly will get it done quickly and efficiently and she will give it 110 percent.”
Our Extra Miler is also very active in her church — Jeffersonville First Christian Church — where she assists with Jr. Worship programs, the Blood Drive, Clothe-A-Child and has attended numerous Youth Mission Trips.
The mission trips are near and dear to Kelly’s heart.
“I like to see the joy we bring others with these mission trips ... I get so much more than I can ever give.”
The recent Birmingham mission trip was her favorite because, “we all became so close — the youth and the sponsors. We became closer through the blending of God’s love and helping others.”
If you ask Kelly Allen about her life philosophy, she doesn’t hesitate with a response.
“I like to be around people who are happy and I’ll work hard to create situations where people are having fun and laughing together.”
This writer can attest to this as fact, because one evening last October I greeted a young Asian girl at my door, trick-or-treating and laughing with her friends. The pure joy on her face told me she would never forget this representative act of love or her wonderful friends in Southern Indiana. Kelly, thank you for being a Southern Indiana Extra Miler.
• KINDNESS TIP OF THE MONTH: Kelly encourages our Southern Indiana readers to perform every day acts of kindness. She closed our interview with these words: You never know how much a simple smile or hello can impact someone who is having a really bad day. “It is such a simple thing to do.”
Simple indeed, Kelly. Thank you for reminding us that random acts of kindness should be part of our every day routines.
Carol A. Dawson is a resident of Jeffersonville and owner of EEO GUIDANCE, Inc. If you have seen or been a part of an act of kindness or know an Extra Miler, let her know about it. To submit a story or act of kindness, contact Carol via e-mail: Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com or mail: The Extra Milers, The Evening News, 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN, 47130-3340.
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Discussion
EXTRA MILER: Kelly Allen is young with heart
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EXTRA MILER: Someone who cares a lot
Waiting backstage to surprise our Extra Miler, John Templeton (Cat in the Hat) and Ellie Delap (Gertrude) were feeling a bit nostalgic. Both are seniors at Jeffersonville High School and this was to be their final high school performance. Standing just behind them, Donna VanHook, our Extra Miler, was doing what she has done best for at least 9 years. She is tugging on a costume and pinning it in just the right places so that it fits properly.
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Both girls have been involved in volunteer activities for several years. Amber serves on the student council of her school and has volunteered several times in soup kitchens. Sophia loves to dance and has entertained in nursing homes on several occasions.
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EXTRA MILER: Overcoming fear by facing it head-on
As a young girl, I was reluctant to learn how to ride a bicycle. I was torn between wanting the wind in my hair as I hit the open road with friends and the fear of falling with a splat to the pavement. My father quickly tired of the excuses and one day sat me on the bicycle and pushed the bike forward. I fell hard and as my windblown vision seemed to be shattered, my father said, “Get right back up on that horse and ride again … it will be easier this time.” He was right.
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EXTRA MILER: A call to duty
I was talking recently with Mark Eddy, executive director for Leadership Southern Indiana, when the conversation turned to this column. Mark said he knew of a church full of Extra Milers. The church is the Northside Church of Christ in Jeffersonville and specifically, he mentioned two individuals he felt met and exceeded the standards set for Extra Milers. He named Michael Kidwell and Gale Dunlap.
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Harkins has touched thousands with her generosity, concern for others
I am blessed with many best friends who have influenced my life; however, there has been one person who has influenced me the most and is the inspiration behind this column. Everything I know about loving my neighbor, I learned from Barbara Long Harkins (Barbie) … and she continues to provide inspiration to all who know her.
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Creative people tend to bring full color to an otherwise monochrome world. Our July Extra Miler, George Ellis, turns life’s dull and numbing neutrals into vibrant and joyful colors.
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An enforcement officer recently spoke with me after sitting through a workplace harassment workshop. He spoke of his part-time job duties as a security officer at a local middle school and expressed a great concern for children who do not seem to fit in with the majority students. The officer said, “Every day I see cruel and hateful harassment from many of the students and my job is to step in if they become violent.”
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EXTRA MILER: Be part of Southern Indiana’s week of kindness
Julie Schwerer, executive director of the Bliss House in Jeffersonville, is a bundle of energy with a contagious spirit. She can speak at warp speed when truly excited and last week she may have broken through the sound barrier as she spoke of an anonymous donation to the Bliss House.
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