Meet FRÉ Ambassador Kelly Dobroski, Marathoner & Cancer Survivor

@fitwith_kelly

About me: I was born in Florida, but I moved around a lot for my parents’ jobs and for school. Currently, I live in the DC metro area. I’m a silver linings searcher and also a realist. I’m not afraid to look at what’s in front of me. I’ve always been active and I ran my first marathon last year. 

My top fitness tip

Don’t overcommit. Don’t start out exercising 7 days a week to get results; start by incorporating a 30 minute walk. Don’t feel you have to work out like your friends do or like you see others do on social media—you need to find something that works for you. If you hate it, you won’t do it!

In fitness, you need to find something that works for you.

Coastal management 

Right now, my job is working in the coastal resilience space. I am working to get people on board with the idea of using natural solutions, like permeable pavement, that can help prevent flooding and improve water quality by allowing water to be absorbed by the soil instead of having it run off into a stormwater system. There are ways to incorporate both economic growth and environmental conservation, for example a green space can prevent floods by absorbing rainwater during a heavy rainstorm and also be a recreational park.

One of my heroes is  Dr. Sylvia Earle.  She is a pioneer in ocean science and someone who has never been afraid to say yes. She really has taken every opportunity to conserve the ocean and its wildlife. She coined the term “ocean optimism” and focused on the positive things happening to protect the ocean. People often don’t want to get involved in environmentalism, because it feels overwhelmingly negative. She is a real trailblazer.

Working in Peru, Belize, and Hawaii

As a student, I traveled a lot to learn about the state of the ocean and marine life in different parts of the world. We went to Peru to see fisheries being managed locally and compared this to how we manage fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay. In Belize, we used tech solutions to improve ocean management. We flew drones over coastal mangroves to see if mangroves were being lost to deforestation. It was very hot, but it was fun!

In Hawaii, there was a lot of hands-on learning about fisheries management, specifically focused on marine populations like whales and other protected species. The choices we make to manage our fisheries have a huge impact on other species. The highlight of this trip was holding an albatross. We met with a wildlife biologist and helped to put on tracking bands on the birds. The albatross was unbelievably soft!

10 years cancer free 

A little over 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with a  Synovial Sarcoma.  I was lucky, because we caught it early on. I had an ovarian transposition and radiation prior to the surgery to remove the tumor. I was only 15 at the time, and I remember asking the doctors if I’d still have my hair for junior prom; fortunately, I didn’t have to go through chemotherapy treatments. I was lucky to have had a “normal” school experience; I continued my studies alongside my treatment. Overall, this experience changed the rest of my life in a positive way. I say yes to more things and my approach to life is different. I believe in seizing opportunities and feel very grateful to be where I am today.

Although every cancer journey is different, it’s important not to be afraid to talk about it.

My top tip for resilience

Although every cancer journey is different, it’s important not to be afraid to talk about it. Reach out to your friends. Often, people aren’t sure what to say or how to help and that means you, the patient, have to be the one to reach out. I reclaimed a lot of my power by talking about my experience and the more I talk about it the more confident I feel.

Skincare
I have issues with  cystic acne,  so I use  DETOX ME  to dry out areas of my skin that get oily. It’s my favorite product and I recommend it to everyone—it's like a spa treatment at home! I use it a few times a week. I also love  RECOVER ME;  it doesn’t feel heavy on my skin and my skin absorbs it really nicely.  RECOVER ME  and  DETOX ME  go really well together. I also wash my skin with  PURIFY ME  every day. Other than that, I’ve been switching between  I AM LOVE  and the new  100% Organic Argan Oil.  They manage my skin’s oil production, so I break out much less. It might seem counterintuitive, but natural oils can really help regulate oily skin. 

I have issues with cystic acne, so I use DETOX ME to dry out areas of my skin that get oily. 

Rapid Fire:

• Favorite exercise?  Running (over bridges, specifically)

• What does sweat mean to you?  To me, sweat means putting work into the things you love. 

• What comes to mind when you think of FRÉ?  I think of strong women, a community, and doing good for the planet.

• What are you most excited about in life right now?  I'm excited about new opportunities, since I recently moved!

• What’s something you’d still love to learn?  I'd love to learn more about the brain and why we do the things we do. 

• If you were a hashtag, what would you be?  I'd be #seriousfun. I love to have a good time, but I can be really serious. 

• What is your mantra?  Unless. This phrase gives me another avenue or different perspective to think about things when I’m feeling stuck. (But it comes from  Dr. Seuss'  The Lorax; the full quote is "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.")

• What’s the best advice that you’ve ever received in your life?  To see a therapist. Having a professional in my corner to help me work through difficult situations and emotions is incredibly empowering and liberating. 

• What is an issue that you wish we spoke about more often?  The positive environmental impact FRÉ has, and any plans to make the product packaging more sustainable moving forward.

• What does women’s empowerment mean in 2020?  To me, women's empowerment means providing space for women to step into their  potential and claim their dreams for themselves.
  
  
• What are your dreams for the FRÉ community?  To have more people experience the connection to the company's ties in Morocco, whether that's through remote opportunities or in person. As someone who was drawn to FRÉ for its incredible products, it was really the mission of the organization to support women and the environment that made me reach out and ask to be an ambassador. This mission truly aligns with my values. I'd love to see more opportunities for ambassadors with smaller support networks (i.e. those who are not making the top sales) to feel the impact FRÉ makes and, maybe, to take company trips. Maybe we can create more personal connections through web meetings with our partner High Atlas Company to learn more about their work. That would be incredible.