Chelsey Koppari
What makes Chelsey Wildly Capable?
“Chelsey is kind, good and generous. She is soft and sweet, but fiercely strong in her convictions. She is a loyal friend and an engaged citizen, always making decisions with the greater good in mind.” TIFFANY LEA MAGILL
What makes you feel proud?
My gift is writing and storytelling, and I feel proud when I use those skills in a positive way. In my everyday job as Director of Communications for Norman Public Schools, those skills are used as I communicate with school staff, students and their families or when I write spotlights for social media posts. Outside of work, I have written for my college’s alumni group and feature community members as a freelancer. I feel especially proud when people feel comfortable talking to me and feel their stories are heard and that they matter.
What keeps you up at night?
I am an overthinker who has a hard time turning off her brain. I am a perfectionist – even though that is impossible to achieve – and tend to overthink everything from work situations to personal interactions to the future. When the world is quietest, my brain tends to be the loudest.
What’s the single biggest problem you’d like to solve in your community?
This might sound too idealistic, but I wish people would remember everyone is a human being with their own unique story. I find myself discouraged by the polarized society we live in, especially when I see people in our community at odds over certain issues. While I know people will never agree on every single issue and that there will always be disagreement and discussion around challenging topics, I wish people were more willing to see others’ points of views, even if they don’t fully understand them or at all agree.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“It is what it is.” As someone who is always in her head, that simple phrase reminds me that sometimes situations are what they are and can’t necessarily be fixed by me, and that is just fine. I can strive to improve the world around me and be the best version of myself, but sometimes it is necessary to accept that some things are out of my control.
