
Kelly Rowen
While Kelly Rowen’s focus and academic goals have shifted slightly over the last few years, one thing has remained constant – her desire to help people live a better life.
Rowen graduated recently from Owens Community College with an Associate of Social Work Transfer. She was recognized as an outstanding graduate in the School of Liberal Arts.
“I’m happy if I can make other people happy,” Rowen said. “That’s what makes my day, if I can see the smiles on people’s faces, just them being happy with your care going above and beyond for someone who needs it.”
She took two years away from school after graduating from Huron High School in Huron, Ohio, before going to the Bowling Green State University Fireland Branch and then BGSU main campus as a special education major.
Following her BGSU experience, Rowen took another year off before coming to Owens, where she ultimately switched her major to social work. She said the wide variety of areas she can concentrate on appealed to her as a social work student.
“I really wanted to help women in general, and it’s kind of branched off to me seeing the societal pressure men feel as well,” Rowen said. “It’s varied throughout me learning so much about social work. … I’ve always had an over-amount of empathy and care to give. I want my empathy and care to go in the right direction, to feel like what I’m doing is worth it.”
Rowen not only has her associate degree now, but she is also a licensed cosmetologist, being certified at EHOVE Career Center in Milan as a high school student. It might not seem like it on the surface, but Rowen sees similarities of helping people feel better about themselves and their situations between cosmetology and social work.
Next up, Rowen will attend the University of Toledo to complete her bachelor’s degree. Her current goal is to work with individuals of all ages who have physical challenges.
She credits the accepting environment and wealth of resources at Owens for helping her take the necessary steps toward her goal.
“It wasn’t so chaotic coming in,” Rowen said. “It’s a calm environment. It felt like I could find my place. Owens gave me the confidence to move forward to a bigger college, like Toledo.”
Learn more about the Social Work Transfer Pathway >>
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Published December 2024