Heights High Alumnus Phil Kelley (’07) is an English Professor at Ponticifica Catholic University of Ecuador in Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
“I have grown to love this country, everything here is different, and everything is the same,” he said in a recent e-mail message. “People go to work, raise their kids, party, play sports, take vacations, cook, and all that other stuff that people do. They just do it differently here. That´s what I love.”
Ecuador is located in the northwest portion of South America, on the Pacific Ocean.
Phil attended Boulevard, Monticello and Heights High where he played on the soccer team. After graduating from Heights High, he received a degree in History from Ohio University.
Below is Phil’s message to the school about his experience in Ecuador and how the Heights Schools prepared him for his Ecuadorian Adventure:
In February of 2013, I came to Esmeraldas, a coastal town of about 150,000 people, as a volunteer with WorldTeach. I knew that I would be teaching English, but I did not know the age or level. I imagined I would be some sort of tutor or teacher’s assistant. Not quite.
When I arrived at my work site, I was informed that I would have the workload and responsibility of a college professor in a strange new land with new people and a language I had only just begun to truly understand!
The cultural diversity in the Heights was like a scrimmage before this big game that I was thrust into. Another big advantage for me was my foreign language training – I took Spanish classes at Boulevard, Monticello, Heights High and finally at Ohio University.
Throughout my school days in the Heights Schools, I was encouraged to go out and explore the world, not to be afraid of it and to roll with the punches. I think that’s a very important outlook to have. It allows you to go places and do things you never thought possible.
 |  |
| Phil's parents, recently visited his classroom in Ecudoar. "My students loved that!" he said. | Phil and friends on a water fall repelling excursion. |
Ecuador is extraordinarily beautiful. The people are very nice, and the food is excellent. But the thing I love most about this experience is learning and adapting to the culture. For example, I am teaching English while learning Ecuadorian Spanish, adjusting to different social norms and learning to cook Ecuadorian food.
I’ve climbed a mountain, propelled down a waterfall, slept in the rainforest, swam with (more like near) pink dolphins, and fallen in love.
None of these great things would have happened without a bit of the ‘just go out and do it!’ attitude instilled in me by my parents, teachers and the Heights community.
Phil is the son of Vicky and Charles Kelley.