Senior Stories: Kalel, Running for a Healthy Lifestyle

Kalel is a recent graduate from Benjamin Franklin High School and an SRLA scholarship recipient. SRLA taught Kalel that with dedication, commitment, and the right mindset anything can be accomplished. SRLA helped Kalel prepare himself to become more involved in other physical activities.

Kalel and his team the morning of the LA Marathon.

My insecurity about my weight was the greatest obstacle in my life. When I joined SRLA I was overweight and unfit. My first practice was a simple half mile around my school's sports complex, and that simple run turned into a long 10 minute walk where I was struggling to breathe. It made me realize the effect of my unhealthy lifestyle. Although it was very difficult, I had a coach and teammates who helped me overcome the challenges that came with being overweight. I lost a lot of weight and ran the marathon and continued to run three more throughout high school.

“Anything, no matter how hard it may seem, can be done if I put in as much work as I can and commit time and effort to whatever I am doing.”

Kalel’s graduation from Benjamin Franklin High School.

That initial challenge of a half mile run really put in motion the biggest lesson SRLA ever taught me. That lesson is that anything, no matter how hard it may seem, can be done if I put in as much work as I can and commit time and effort to whatever I am doing. I’ve used that lesson all through high school, other sports, and life. That lesson helped me overcome my fear and thoughts when it came to wrestling. I knew wrestling was a tough sport, especially being my first year as a senior, but with the lessons I learned from SRLA, I didn’t give up. These lessons helped me make it all the way to City Championships while keeping the varsity spot the whole year.

Rapid Fire!

Something I can’t run without…
Are my airpods for music.

My favorite post run snack…

Pizza!

Favorite place to train…

The loop around the Rose Bowl.

Kalel and his dad at the 2020 LA Marathon finish line.

An artist I like to listen to while running is…

Juice Wrld, his music helps me put all I have into the run, especially towards the end.

Someone that inspires me to run…

My dad, he has run about 17 marathons and he got me into running in the first place.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP DEVELOP HEALTHY HABITS?

Learn more about our programs to get involved. Donate, volunteer, or sponsor our students to make a difference with SRLA.