A mathematician, thespian, and engineer—qualities commonly used to describe Sixth Former Finn Kelly. Involved in many noteworthy clubs and groups like The Notables, math club, and Haverford Electronics Group, Kelly is known by many for his achievements, his sociability, and his smile.
Still, there is much more to this student than what meets the eye. Kelly’s path has been filled with many obstacles and lessons.
Kelly’s Haverford experience began in fourth grade. As he progressed through middle and upper school, he learned to embrace the opportunities he was given.
“I’ve become a part of a lot more things, many different communities within the school,” Kelly said. “The easy way to join a club or a sports team is simply saying ‘yes’ when people suggest something to you.”
Among Kelly’s activities is robotics.
“I would have never thought about the robotics team if my friend Milan hadn’t come up to me in sophomore year and asked me if I wanted to join the team, and I simply accepted the offer,” he said. “That one moment started something that, at the time, I didn’t think was going to be big, but it’s grown to be a significant part of my life because of the people and friendships I’ve made there.”
Kelly emphasizes the importance of interacting and introducing yourself earlier, referencing his Third Form year.
“Things like just saying ‘yes’ once or doing something that you might not have thought you would do or could do can really evolve—kind of like rolling up a snowball down a hill—into some really great things for you,” he said. “Through my sophomore, junior, and senior years, I’ve branched out more and made a lot more friends and become a part of a lot more cool things.”
The time commitment for extracurricular activities creates a common challenge for many students, including Kelly.
“I’ve had to figure out how to allocate my time in different ways to different things,” Kelly said.
Aside from robotics, Kelly is also a school musical star, acting the lead in both Enron and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
“Some of my best friends came directly from the theater, especially during tech-week rehearsals, where we’re at school until 10:30 p.m.,” Kelly said. “I think my strongest relationships formed then, and I became close with kids whom I never would’ve expected to become friends with.”
Growth is a process, and Kelly is still learning to “lean in” to personal activities, such as learning to play the piano.
“I kind of see piano like a puzzle in a lot of ways,” he said. “It’s like this thing that’s seemingly so out of reach because I’ve never touched a piano before, but also in a way, like trying to learn to solve a Rubik’s cube or something like that where I hope that if I put enough time, I’ll begin to figure out the feel of it a bit and become successful in it.”
“The most successful people in the world are humble and kind. The happiest people in the world are humble and kind.”
Finn Kelly ’25
Kelly offers three main takeaways from his time at Haverford.
“Number one—be collaborative, not competitive. Number two—always smile, no frowny faces. Always have the mindset that things are going to work out. Number three—take risks, do something that people don’t expect you to do. Do something outside of your comfort zone. Sit down at a different lunch table. Talk to some kids you wouldn’t normally talk to. Take risks,” Kelly advises.
Kelly also emphasizes two major qualities he feels everyone should have: humility and kindness.
“The most successful people in the world are humble and kind. The happiest people in the world are humble and kind,” Kelly said. “If you can master those two virtues, everything else, such as success and happiness, will come easily.”
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