Walking through Enloe’s West Gym Lobby on a quiet afternoon, there’s not much to see or hear other than faint buzzings of extracurriculars. You can find yourself a seat in the furniture that garnishes the outside of the auditorium doors, or perhaps go for a stroll up the-WHOOOSH. Nevermind. There will be no peaceful walking or tranquil thought in this lobby, for you’ve just encountered one of its many inhabitants in her natural element. A Kelley Calvillo has just run past you, racing at a quick 26 mph, and best believe she has many places to be.
Known across a plethora of Enloe Arts groups and clubs, Kelley Calvillo is a force to be reckoned with, even when not running past you at tumultuous speeds. She is a crew head for Teach Theatre’s Makeup and Hair design and an avid actress, starring in the musical all four years in various roles, most recently playing Madame Thenardier in Les Mis. She has also spent the past four years involved in the Enloe Dance Department, spending her upperclassmen years as a part of the prestigious Enloe Dance Ensemble. Additionally, Kelley is co-president of The Butterfly Effect, a women empowerment club, and Opinion and Creative Writing Editor of The Eagle’s Eye, where she has been on staff since her junior year. With plenty on her plate, Kelley somehow still finds time to be compassionate, empathetic, and a beautiful person who emits nothing but light on others.
As many know, being in Enloe Theatre productions is no walk in the park- rehearsals are long, stressful, and full of a lot of kids who all think they’re the best and deserve the most stage time. It can be an overwhelming, high-demanding job, but that environment is where Kelley thrives. More than just acting, Kelley takes on a crucial role in the entire production- hair and makeup. She designs and crafts every character’s look on stage from the neck up, creating styles to frame the face better and colors to make eyes pop and cheeks glow. She’s done her fair share of wig wrangling as well, and on a high school theatre budget, that alone should get high praise. How does she balance being both in Enloe shows and on crew, you may ask? No one knows. But streets have spoken that the rich liquid of strawberry apricot Redbull and strawberry mint-charged lemonade might have played a part in getting her to Enloe two hours early for all Les Mis rehearsals just to braid Conor Kruger’s hair to fit under his wig cap. Truly, no one is doing it like Kelley is.
Kelley has been a co-president of The Butterfly Effect for two years and undeniably changed the club for the better. She’s led multiple charity drives, amounting to countless donations for organizations like The Diaper Bank and No Woman, No Girl. Under her leadership, the club has grown to provide more volunteering opportunities and period products in girl’s bathrooms. But most importantly Kelley has something invaluable to the club, genuine passion. Kelley’s love for discussion and activism shines in the meetings, her presence can be described as nothing but genuine. Her warm personality creates the atmosphere that is so special to The Butterfly Effect, the club wouldn’t be the thriving space it is today without her. MC, the outreach coordinator for The Butterfly Effect says “Kelley is one of the most welcoming people I have ever met. She is genuinely interested in what you have to say and is always there for me and everyone in the club has to say. She creates such a unique and positive atmosphere in meetings and is such a great leader”. Another club member and close friend of Kelley’s, Brenan White, adds “Kelley’s best trait is her ability to recognize and be there for her friends when they need someone. She is such a light and someone I’ve looked forward to seeing almost every day.”
Possibly the most important space that Kelley occupies at Enloe is the dance hall. Dance has been a pillar of Kelley since she was a tot, and that hobby grew into a future career in Enloe’s dance community. “She is incredibly driven and has such a creative mind,” says Henry Carroll, Kelley’s partner in crime. “Her ability to translate stories, ideas, and themes into all of her work makes her stand out as a dancer.” Henry Carroll would be best defined as “dance plookie” as per Kelley’s language and has been a best friend and dancer to Kelley since their years at Moore Square. He remarks “Kelley has been the biggest contributor to my high school experience. She brings a welcoming and kind aura that instantly makes you feel comfortable. Her impact on my dance career and high school experience is clear. We’ve made many pieces together and each time I’ve walked away with a new thought process. She’s pushed me to be a better friend, dancer, and person.”
Finally, Kelley serves as the creative writing and opinion editor of the Eagle’s Eye, and like everywhere else she goes it wouldn’t be the same without her. Her work has been vital to the paper in the two years she’s been a part of the community. Without her, our publication would lack her beautiful poetry and prose. Covering anything from Enloe theater productions to the best moments of Glee, her impact has been one of humor and thoughtfulness. As an editor Kelley’s critical eye and encouraging demeanor make not just better articles, but craft students to become better writers. Holding every writer to their best ability, her job as an editor turns into one of a mentor.
Kelley Calvillo is incredible. She’s a leader, a dancer, a writer, an actress, and a friend. I’ve known Kelley for two years, and without a doubt, she’s changed my trajectory. Kelley has excellent perception of people, of their best self, and a confidence that they can reach it. Her love for people manifests in expectations but with them comes encouragement, faith, and belief that you will meet them because Kelley is steadfast in what she believes but never believes something without genuine thought behind it. That’s what makes her a great writer, artist, and friend, true confidence that comes from intelligence. Kelley, I’ve met a lot of people at Enloe, but you are on the brink of adulthood and have a self-possession unparalleled to anyone I’ve met. I know you’ll live a life exactly how you want it, and I know that no place you touch will be the same. And I hope that one day I’m in a bookstore and sitting on the shelf will be a book with your name on it. That I get to turn to whoever will listen to me and tell them of how when I was younger I knew a redheaded girl with compassion and talent, an artist and great friend, but above all a girl who was unbelievably, wonderfully, human.
With her hands full of every kind of busy that occupies Enloe students, Kelley’s hard work she has put into this school with echo throughout the halls for many years to come, even when her crazed running ceases to occur in the West Gym Lobby. After graduating, Kelley plans to attend Elon University to double major in Dance and Dance Science and minor in Creative Writing. There is no doubt that Kelley will accomplish all she plans to and more in college.
To Kelley,
With a heart as big as yours there is nothing in this world you can not do. Watching you grow and thrive in all your elements is a joy to watch. While it is sad to see you leave Enloe, there is nothing but greatness ahead of you, and there is absolutely nothing sad about that. Go forth and be who you are, Kelley, and you will be met with nothing but kindness in return. In the odd case that things awry, know you can always count on your Enloe family to be here, in all things, always. We love you Kel.
-El
