“Today in class, we covered rheumatoid arthritis, a disease in which your body’s immune system attacks the body instead of protecting it. This results in the body’s tissues suffering extreme damage. Aside from that, everyone, have a good weekend!”

This is the type of thing students might hear from medical terminology professor Karen Kowalski. She will teach them about the most complicated intricate body system, leaving them with their minds blown and rethinking their whole lives–and then give them a cheery, “Have a good weekend!”

From the time she was only 5 and taking care of her “sick dollies,” Kowalski knew she had a passion to care for others, while also being gifted with the ability to teach others her knowledge. 

“I remember being a kid holding a baby doll telling my mom I wanted to be a baby nurse,” Kowalski said.

Motivated, Kowalski got started on her childhood dream after high school at 17, juggling school and her job at Pete’s Market.

But after three years of schooling, Kowalski decided to put a pause on her education in order to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She decided to drop out to reassure herself that health care was truly her passion and that she had found the right fit.

Kowalski uses her experience to help students see how schooling is more than just following a linear timeline.

“Time doesn’t matter; you have to find the right fit,” she says. “I dropped out, and it took me longer than I expected, and there’s nothing wrong with it. I am proof of it and thankful about where I am. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking longer.” 

“Time doesn’t matter; you have to find the right fit. I dropped out, and it took me longer than I expected, and there’s nothing wrong with it. I am proof of it and thankful about where I am. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking longer.”

Karen Kowalski

After enjoying her time as a CNA, Kowalski got back in the groove of school at the age of 23 to further explore her passion. At that point, she decided to go into teaching.

Her ultimate goal as a professor is to make sure her students thoroughly understand her material. 

“My goal was to get people to understand, whether it’s a task or a curriculum I’m teaching,” Kowalski said. “I wanted people to understand and feel comfortable about their foundation of knowledge.” 

Kowalski has been teaching medical terminology and the medical assistant program for 11 years and wouldn’t trade it for the world. The key to her success is patience. 

“I like slowing down to show others how to get the job done, and I’ve always had that patience–something that not everyone has. Sometimes people may feel that I could go faster with my teaching, but I feel like I would be doing a disservice to myself if I did.” 

Kowalski’s devotion to the medical field does not end with her teaching. She is hoping to study further within the next few years. Her plan is to go for her master’s degree and potentially her doctorate.

Her daughter Abby, 17, who is studying to be a biomedical engineer, also showed interest in getting her doctorate someday. They hope to begin schooling together when the time is right and tackle their dreams as a family.

Just as a mama bear would, Karen Kowalski looks out for her cubs, reassuring them that the golden timelines embedded in our heads are not always going to work out. It’s all about finding your place, the way Kowalski did.

But ultimately what makes her a mama bear is her ability to have unlimited patience with those around her–a patience she learned to show herself.

“I mostly enjoy seeing students again and where they are now as they reach that finish line,” she says. Her advice comes from her experience: “Always keep going no matter what. There are so many other opportunities waiting for you.” 

VOCATIONAL SPOTLIGHT GRAPHIC BY EMILY STEPHENS