A Walk Down a Broken Road
Tara Owen may be one of the most amazing people that you would never meet. A very relaxed, laid back Tara gave me a story that could make most Hollywood writers a career.
She began a modest and humble story that turned out to be nothing less than an amazing tale of overcoming adversity and how in the most challenging situations she was able to strive and push forward.
“Relaxed,” “amazing,” and “reliable” were a few among many adjectives that Tara’s friends consistently used to describe her. When you get to know her you realize why she really is that way and why the small stuff doesn’t bother her.
Tara did not have your average childhood; some would say she did not have much of one at all because she was forced to grow up so fast.
Tara’s father left the family when she was a young child and her mother also left when she was only 12, leaving only Tara and her older sister to fend for themselves.
Tara moved around during the most crucial development stages of her live. She and her sister were living from family to family and just getting by.
Tara’s older sister Ashley recalls their childhood together. She explained that there was no way that she would have made it without Tara.
“Tara was my rock” she stated, “that stood strong and grew up and matured extremely fast”.
When many people are faced with these odds, some tend to turn to alcohol and drugs for comfort, but not Tara. Tara kept her head screwed on and kept her focus on education and the betterment of her life. She did no let the past obstacles get in her way but used them as motivation.
In high school Tara was well liked, her friends say, and had no enemies. Her friends further described her and said that if you were to just met her you would not know right off how great of a person she is because she is shy until she opens up, but when she does, that is when Tara is the most beautiful.
“Tara has the biggest heart and there is no one better at giving advice,” best friend Raquel told me.
Another friend said that she was the perfect complement to her own stress filled life. Terra Clark told me: “She is so easy going and care free and her advice is always on.”
As high school became part of the past, Tara had a big decision to make. Because of her family history her finances college did not seem to be in the picture, but she looked at her options and found that East Carolina would offer the most financial aid. With a job she would be able to pay her way through college.
Despite her determination, circumstances outside of her control caused her funds to run out after two years, and she had to take some time off.
When many would have given up and not returned, a year later Tara returned to ECU a 23 year old senior majoring in communications, to finish what she started.
Tara now lives with her boyfriend and two-year old boxer and continues to work hard to pay her way through school.
Tara has recently reunited with both her mother and father and being the kind and understanding person that she is, has “made nice” and is now on good terms with both.
Tara is also half Indian on her mother’s side, to which today they use as a common ground to bond at Powwow Indian events.
It is obvious that friends are a very important part of Tara’s life as she is an important part in theirs. I saw this most when Raquel told me “Tara is the only friend I would keep forever; friendships like hers are irreplaceable.”
None of her friends could think of a single negative thing to say, but all loved to tell about hanging out with their favorite bottle of wine just “chatting” it up on the weekend.
Tara’s sister said that she knew she was bias about her sister but said that she is the most amazing, smartest person that she knew. Tara also is a great aunt to her sister’s son. I asked her sister one last time to sum it all up, she explained “She is pretty bad ass, can I say that?” I heartedly replied that she could, and that it fit Tara Qwen perfectly.
Filed under: Classmate Profiles, Spring 2008