Coming Full Circle: A Calling Realized

Growing up in a Dutch Reformed community near San Diego, Kelly (Zatlin) Lapadula thought she knew what a future at Dordt University would look like. However, after visiting campus during high school, she realized student life at Dordt was very different than she expected—in the best way possible. From the campus life, the genuine relationships with professors, and the “riveting experiences” of rural, agricultural Iowa, Lapadula found what she believed was a place she could thrive.

“My Dordt visit showed me a very different life than the one I grew up in—one I never imagined for myself—and it intrigued me,” Lapadula explains. “I was also attracted to the intimate class sizes, the student camaraderie, the Christian worldview, and the opportunities that a smaller college could provide.”

“I felt like on a smaller campus I could make a bigger impact,” she adds.

Lapadula arrived on campus with a passion for journalism. However, her adviser, Dr. Charles Veenstra, faculty emeritus of communication, challenged her to broaden her vision for her future. “I really enjoyed writing and had ‘Rory Gilmore’ ambitions,” Lapadula jokes. “But Dr. Veenstra encouraged me to consider a major in public relations with a minor in journalism. He recognized the field of journalism was rapidly changing, and it wasn’t entirely sustainable.”

“Looking back, I’m really grateful for that advice as it allowed me to feed my journalistic aspirations while also exploring a more stable career option.”

Strategic academic planning wasn’t the only way Lapadula felt supported in her studies at Dordt. “I had a great relationship with Dr. Veenstra, who made me feel like I was one of his most valued students, though I’d bet that he made all of his students feel this way,” she says. She also appreciated learning from professionals with real-world experience in journalism. “I gained insight into the world of newspaper journalism and established a strong foundation for storytelling and not ‘burying the lead,’ which is something that I carry with me in my career today,” adds Lapadula.

Outside of the classroom, Lapadula had several hands-on experiences that helped equip her for a promising career in communications. “One of my most memorable experiences was taking a weekend field trip to tour several public relations firms in Minneapolis,” she says. “It was invaluable to get outside of the walls of the classroom and get an inside look at what a career in marketing and public relations might look like.”

Lapadula also served as the editor-in-chief of Dordt’s student-run newspaper, the Diamond. Initially a job she had no interest in, Lapadula says she now recognizes how valuable the experience was. “I didn’t consider myself much of a leader then and would have preferred to simply accept my assignments and write articles, but this role gave me an opportunity to stretch in ways I didn’t think I could,” she says. “I had to learn how to lead and motivate a staff of volunteer writers and photographers, manage tight deadlines, oversee copyediting and layout, and field potential backlash over controversial newsworthy topics.”

“It taught me ownership, responsibility, delegation, leadership, and the value of hard work,” adds Lapadula.

Many students appreciate the opportunities to get off campus and immerse themselves in new places, relationships, and field experiences. For Lapadula, Chicago Semester offered just that. “From living just blocks from Lake Michigan to learning how to navigate public transportation, I became a more confident and independent version of myself,” says Lapadula. “The Chicago Semester program also offered many cultural opportunities in the city, like seeing a Yo-Yo Ma concert, touring the Art Institute of Chicago, and attending a Cubs Game.”

During her semester in Chicago, Lapadula interned in the marketing department at Easterseals, a national nonprofit supporting people with disabilities. The experience gave her hands-on exposure to public relations, social media, blogging, and advertising. More importantly, it opened her eyes to a new calling. “The internship introduced me to the world of disability services, igniting my passion for advocating for people with disabilities,” she adds.

Today, over a decade after that internship ended, Lapadula has come full circle. She now serves as the Digital Marketing Manager for the Southern California affiliate location of Easterseals—a team serving over 25,000 children and adults with disabilities across Southern California. “As the Digital Marketing Manager, I have the privilege of working with a team to create and share online content that amplifies the important work Easterseals does,” she explains. “From impactful success stories about people with disabilities to providing education for the public on disability inclusion, I get to spend each day creating awareness around the topic of disability for our website, social media, e-newsletter, and more.”

One of her most memorable projects in this role was supporting the 2024 launch of the “Disability is Not a Dirty Word” PSA campaign, created to confront stigma and promote disability pride and inclusion.

“In this project, I led an influencer campaign to help amplify our message online,” Lapadula explains. “We worked with 11 social media influencers representing different disabilities—from Love on the Spectrum cast members to community activists and beauty influencers, each creator brought a unique perspective.”

The campaign garnered over 1.6 million views and was nominated for PR Daily’s Non-Profit Communications Awards in the Influencer Communications category.

“This nomination alone is a profound recognition for Easterseals and for the disability community at-large,” Lapadula says. “It shows how much of an impact a message like this can have on society.”

For Lapadula, the recognition points to something even greater. “Everyone is born with inherent worth, regardless of ability,” she says. “It’s important, especially for Christians, to be advocates for and alongside people with disabilities, acknowledging and celebrating that each individual is deliberately created with unique purpose and value.”

Looking back, Lapadula recognizes her return to Easterseals is a reminder of the unexpected ways God weaves our stories together. Though her path from intern to manager wasn’t linear, she sees clear purpose in each step along the way.

“Despite the grand plans we have for ourselves, especially in college as we dream of our future, things often pan out differently,” she reflects. “Life throws curveballs, but as I’ve experienced many times since graduating 12 years ago, God’s plan has always been so much better than my own.”

“After my internship, I remember thinking that someday I would love to return to the organization,” Lapadula recalls. “Nine years later, in 2022, I saw a job opening in Southern California... and I knew I had to apply.”

“It’s incredibly surreal working for the same organization that helped give me my start,” she continues. “If it wasn’t for Chicago Semester, I might have never been introduced to Easterseals and the incredible work they do.”