Student hopes to make difference with special-needs kids Just 100 miles from the original and historic state capital of York, Penn., in a town called Pottsville, a soon-to-be graduate student set out on a road trip across the country to complete her higher education. Her destination? Pacific Beach. The other day I was walking Buddy and Brutus by Nick’s at the Beach, a casual, California-style restaurant and sidewalk café located in the 800 block of Thomas Avenue. There, I had the great pleasure of meeting Kelly Majestic, a kind and beautiful strawberry-blonde waitress who was setting the sidewalk tables for her lunch shift. Cordially, she said, “Your dogs are beautiful. Can I meet them?” “Sure,” I replied. “This is Buddy and his brother, Brutus.” I could tell by the way her face lit up that Kelly was a dog lover. She greeted Buddy and Brutus with unbridled glee. When I told her who Buddy was, she said, “Wow, I loved the ‘Air Bud’ movies as a kid growing up in Pottsville.” As any good journalist who’s looking for his next column, I asked Kelly, “Are you a student here?” “Yes,” she replied. “I’m a graduate student at San Diego State University.” Kelly is going for her master’s degree in elementary-school education with an emphasis in autism. She has a place in her heart for special-needs children and wants to make it her life’s work. How wonderful to see a young woman who wants to devote her life to helping those who face challenges and adversity. I have been performing motivational presentations for elementary-level children for decades, so Kelly’s story really hits close to home with me. When Kelly isn’t working two jobs, or studying to achieve her master’s degree, she enjoys art, music, hiking and basking under the warm sky. Kelly is a great example of our young generation taking initiative to achieve a higher education and to make this world a better place to live. She makes a wonderful addition to our beautiful seaside town, our beloved Pacific Beach. — Kevin Di Cicco is the owner of Buddy the dog, who is best known for his roles in the long string of “Air Bud” movies and his ball-playing skills showcased on popular television shows. For booking inquiries, contact www.airbud.com.
