Montville ― Kelsey Beaupre has never had it easy.

But those who know this easygoing Montville High School senior can attest to the fact that what others might see as obstacles Beaupre sees as challenges to overcome. And by all accounts she has succeeded in meeting those challenges and kept an upbeat attitude along the way.

Beaupre was born with spina bifida, a developmental condition that results in nerve damage and, in Beupre’s case, left her with minimal feeling in her lower legs and feet.

“When she was born, we were told the likelihood of her being able to walk without a device was pretty slim,” her mother, Jennifer Beaupre, said.

But her mother said Kelsey, who is the youngest of her four daughters, never let the condition bring her down and she rarely complained about the weekly physical therapy sessions or using a walker at a younger age.

Kelsey, she said, learned to not only cope but to adapt.

The challenges have included participation in extracurricular activities that have included cheer, lacrosse and soccer while working part-time at a local day care. Kelsey says that while she is unable to play sports at a competitive level with her high school teammates, she’s stayed involved by becoming a manager with both the lacrosse and soccer teams.

“I wanted to stay a part of the school community as much as possible and be involved in school things. I feel like my friends had a big impact on me. They’ve shown me that even with a disability I could do the same things,” Kelsey said.

Kelsey’s parents, Jennifer and Mathieu Beaupre, both work in the Montville school district -- Jennifer as a speech therapist and Mathieu as a soccer, basketball and lacrosse coach.

Kelsey wears braces on her lower legs and said the only noticeable difference between her and her classmates is her gait. Otherwise, she said, it’s not so obvious that just walking is more difficult for her.

“Things have looked a little different for me,” Kelsey said. “It was more at the younger ages when it would really get to me. I’ve learned to adapt as I got more mature. I don’t let it bother me as much. Everyone is obviously different. It doesn’t change who they are. I guess when I was younger I didn’t understand that and it was hard to accept being different from other people.”

Kelsey credits her three older sisters with helping her to motivate her.

“As with any younger sibling, I tried to do everything they did. They pushed me and encouraged me. There were things I wanted to do regardless of any limitations,” Kelsey said.

Kelsey, who recently turned 18, said she has a driver’s license and is now able to drive, thanks to some modification that allow her to control the vehicle using hand controls.

Educators in the Montville school district are no longer surprised at Kelsey’s ability to adapt.

“She’s worked through a lot of troubles, but you wouldn’t know it based on her attitude and work ethic,” Kelsey’s school councilor, Allison Delaney, said. “She’s always been the happiest, brightest, well-mannered person you see in the hallways. Just the grit and perseverance is really remarkable.”

Delaney said what separates Kelsey from the rest of the pack is her dogged determination to participate in extracurricular activities.

“It would have been very easy for her to make a million excuses how not to participate. She finds a way in everything she does,” Delaney said.

Stephanie Treat, Kelsey’s longtime physical therapist in the school district, said she can’t recall a day when Kelsey came in and used her physical limitation as an excuse.

“She’s willing to try and do anything. The physical demands of just moving through the school are harder for her. And yet, she chooses cheer practice or lacrosse and never seen these as an obstacle. She approaches things with the attitude of ‘how can I make this work’ and moves on to her next goal.

“She goes and goes and is up for the next challenge,” Treat said.

Kelsey’s next challenge is continuing her education. She plans to start her college career at Three Rivers Community College in the fall with an eye toward a degree in early childhood education.

“I just think from growing up and all my experiences with kids has drawn me to want to become a teacher,” Kelsey said. “I’m definitely ready to get out and start my next chapter as soon as possible.”

g.smith@theday.com