great things never come from comfort zones

A little bit about me…

It’s funny how life changes and shapes your ideals and goals. I had a plan.

I always had a plan—until I didn’t.

I’ve grown more in the past two years of my life than I ever thought possible.

I thought that this growth would occur by leaving for the Peace Corps and figuring out what I wanted to do in the world. Little did I realize, I already had the tools and passion for accomplishing what my purpose was. It was just a matter of defining it and gaining knowledge to achieve all I wanted to do.

There’s this principle in yoga, “as we become more aligned with ourselves, we realize our purpose.”

That’s where going away to grad school and packing up my bags from my comfort zone in Michigan came into play.

I found the perfect program combining community theory, development, and action tools to accomplish actual changes in our structures and systems.

I’m starting my first year as a Community Development and Action program student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Right now, my interests include youth development, mental health/trauma focus and program evaluation. However, I’m sure they will shift and change as I grow in the next two years. Nashville also has many community outreach programs involving yoga, which is something I am passionate about sharing.

I have already fallen in love with Nashville, Vanderbilt’s beautiful campus, the immaculate vibes that fill the air, and the kind people that are at every corner greeting you with a smile and a “ya’ll.”

I am beyond excited to see how this journey stretches and challenges me as a person and how I develop and grow academically, professionally and personally.

Cheers!

Maddy Kelly

Grateful for…

bucket hats, good vibes, my friends and family, the sunshine, writing, yoga, coffee, exploring this beautiful world, meeting people and hearing their stories, all things music, anything outdoors, pretty much any adventure that’s out there waiting for me & little sayings like the one below