My parents divorced when I was two, I spent most of my time living with my dad and uncle. They learned how to braid my hair, brush my teeth and even wipe my butt; eventually they taught me how to do it. We would spend our weekends in the Olympic Mountains camping on the creeks and rolling in the mud with our Toyota trucks. I had about six years of this and plenty of Barbie’s then my dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that we believe he developed from working on the nuclear subs. He passed away when I was 6 ½, this was the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with in my life, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Even though losing a parent is a hard thing to deal with, I was still able to benefit from my loss. I was able to learn early in life to live it to its fullest, live with no regrets and to be the best person you can be. I have always tried to live by these principles.

I continued living with my two half brothers, one older and one younger. They constantly ganged up on me and beat me up, eventually my big brother moved out and I was able to kick my little brothers but easier. I also have a half sister from my father that I saw on occasion. I continued to get good grades in school, even excelled for a while, taking advanced math and studied a grade ahead. I would spend my summers on my grandparent’s horse farm, playing in the barn, riding horses, knocking down birds’ nests and doing anything to entertain me in a town with less than a 1,000 people.

Throughout the years during my summers I went on a few road trips across the states with my dad’s brother and sister. I now know the west coast like the back of my hand, hate the 405, drove through a tree and know that driving through Texas is boring and takes more than a day. New Orleans has uneven roads, east coast beaches are beautiful and I even held a crocodile in the everglades. I have only experienced the edges of this fabulous country but have learned it has just as much to offer as any other around the world. I am very fortunate to have a family that cares enough to take the time to show me this.

I somehow transitioned to junior high where I did nothing but try and fit in and figure out who I was, I even spray painted my hair bright orange. Then I was on to high school I started off with a bang, I was freshman vice-president, vote for Kelsey Vogt (pronounced vote) was the best slogan I could come up with. I was also Greenhand President for the FFA, and FFA reporter my sophomore year, but I did not own any pigs although my picture was in the paper with one. Junior year my extra curricular activities dwindled, I had to get a job to pay for my first car, an 86 Toyota Supra that was falling apart but got me where I needed to be, most days. I started working at Papa Murphy’s pizza, not the coolest job but I absolutely loved it and would still work there if I could. I also started teaching swimming lessons and life guarding at the local pool, one of the most rewarding experiences I could have ever asked for. I continued working these jobs throughout the year and senior year where I then decided to be the school mascot, the lady Viking. I also became a teen mentor for a strange little girl, Hanna who was in 3rd grade; we read a lot of books and decorated sugar cookies. I was also a success mentor for about 15 sophomores at my high school, we talked about college plans, and I told them of my own and helped them to become a success in their own lives. I eventually graduated, one of my and my family’s proudest moments. Two weeks later I packed up all my belongings and drove down to Arizona with my uncle, a very hot drive in the middle of summer with no air conditioning.

My life in Arizona was a little rough, I immediately started taking classes at community college, no friends, just my uncle who was rarely home due to work but I was able to continue teaching swimming lessons at a nearby gym. It was one of the hardest adjustments I made considering I had never moved before, but I knew I had to do it, I needed to get out of my small town and make something of myself, experience a whole new world. That first winter away I experienced my first international vacation in Sydney, Australia, I then decided that I was going to do whatever it takes to see the rest of the world through my eyes. A year and half into my transition in Arizona I had made some friends but was still unhappy. I had been in two bad car accidents (not my fault for the record) one loss was my four wheeling truck I adored and worked so hard for. I was ready to move back home and into my comfort zone, I went home to visit for Christmas and realized nothing was the same there and I would probably be just as miserable so I decided to stick it out in Arizona.

I continued with community college and that summer I traveled with my uncle to Spain where he occasionally worked in the aerospace industry. We traveled around the country by train, seeing many small cities and some amazing architecture; I saw the running of the bulls and experienced some European culture for the first time. I eventually had to return to reality of continuing community college in Arizona but was extremely fortunate that I had already had two amazing international adventures before I was 20.

Since I had lost my hard earned Toyota truck to an unfortunate accident I was able to purchase an older Toyota truck so I could continue fulfilling my four wheeling addiction but it was in need of an extreme make over. My grandpa, uncle and I spent many weeks rebuilding the engine and getting poor red back to running condition. I eventually got my first set of tools and was able to work and learn what every woman should know and more about trucks. With this I was able to four wheel in confidence and pride, I love being able to help a boy on his Toyota and know more than him. I can’t say enough how fortunate I am to have a family willing to show me a world and life most people will never experience. They don’t make it easy but I know I always have support when I need it.

This may not fit in real well but is a key point in my life, December of 2006 I was at a hockey game in Tucson and came across a cute black and white puppy a man had in the back of his pick up. He said he found him while doing maintenance around the town and no one had claimed him, I decided that if after the game he still had the puppy I would take him home. I just couldn’t leave an innocent soul out on the streets to die, if anyone knows me they know I get more upset about a dog dieing in a movie than a person. I called the man after the game was over, my team the wildcats won, and the dog was all mine. I took him home that night facing two hours of puppy farts back to the valley. I named him Cash, in Latin meaning conceded because he loves to watch himself in the mirror. He is now 1 ½, 64 pounds, an obedience school graduate, knows how to high five, is the love of my life and will continue to be for many years. I then decided that I wanted to study abroad, I applied to a summer program offered through my community college to study abroad in Ireland, a place I had always dreamed of because this is where The Cranberries are from and they have been one of my favorite bands since I was a little girl, besides Queen of course. I was accepted and the next thing I was on my way to Ireland to live with three girls I had never met. I lived there for a month, learned about Irish culture and religion, made three life long friends and drank a lot of Guinness. After school was finished I decided to backpack around the UK, taking a bus to Northern Ireland, a ferry to Scotland and a train down to London. I had never been in a foreign country by myself before but this gave me the confidence and independence I needed to travel and live in the real world. I returned to the states feeling like a whole new person, I finished one last semester at community college, received my associates in arts and general studies and finally transferred to Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, AZ.

NAU was the only university in Arizona to accept me as a resident for tuition purposes and there was no way in hell I was paying out of state tuition again. I had lived in Arizona for 2 ½ years, paid out of state tuition at community college for a year and would not tolerate anymore. It ended up working out for the best, I don’t care for the snow but I love my school, I don’t think I would have fit in anywhere else and better yet, one of the girls I lived with in Ireland was already attending there. I finally feel like I am going somewhere with my life and headed in the right direction. But in the life of Kelsey nothing is ever calm, I decided to study abroad again, this time in a place I love most, Australia. There I plan to fulfill requirements for my minor in international communication, network in the four wheeling industry and see if this could be a place I would want to start a career. I just applied and not to be conceded, but I will be accepted. Now I sit here writing about my life in hopes to be intellistudent of the week. From here on you can only imagine what the rest of this story will unfold.

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