Name: Kelly Hebden Papa
Age: 40
Family: Husband, Mark; daughters Alyssa, 18, Hannah, 9, Hailee, 7, and Meredith, 3
Pets: Two dogs, which like to dig and chew up stuffed animals
Education: Florida State University College of Law, 1999, University of Michigan, B.A., English 1994
Admitted to the Bar: 1999
Employed by: Law Office of Kelly Papa & Shelley Eckels
Field of practice: Criminal, Family, Bankruptcy
Professional Organizations: The Florida Bar
Community Involvement: Coach at the YMCA, soccer and basketball, also a substitute teacher for Sunday School.
How did you get involved?
Coaching started with Hannah. She initially had another coach, and I was the assistant. The other coach could no longer coach, so I took over. I didn’t want the girls to be split up. The Y teams are co-ed, and we’ve had an all-girls team for four years now. I love working with the girls, especially when the boys on the other teams think our team is going to be easy, because they are all girls. I think sports are great for kids — to help their self-confidence, deal with peer pressure and give them physical activity. I love coaching so much that I started coaching basketball as well!
How can someone else get involved?
The Y is always short on coaches. You do not have to have a child on the team to be a coach. I did not play soccer as a youth, and I was horrible at basketball, although I played through junior high, so it does not matter if you were not a sports star yourself. Just volunteer and you’ll love it!
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
I am very proud of the girls. We had a really good season this year, but many have been rocky. The girls stuck together when we had seasons where we didn’t win a game, and kept working. I like their tenacity. I also get an ear in to what goes on in the heads of 8- to 10-year-olds when their parents aren’t around. They are all such good kids.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
“Saving Fish from Drowning,” by Amy Tan.