By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
As the 2022 Hayesville High School graduates prepare to go into the world, we offer encouragement by sharing the success of another HHS grad.
After graduating in 2017, Hillary Danielle Owens attended Western Carolina University with plans to become a physical therapist. “My mind quickly changed once I started working in a pharmacy,” she explained. “While in high school, I completed my pharmacy technician class and became certified in July after graduation. I knew I was not great at being a waitress, I was very clumsy. I thought working as a pharmacy technician would be a great way to get my feet wet in health care. Soon after starting, I fell in love with the job.”
Owens changed her major and continued working at the pharmacy, while also completing two years of undergraduate education. “In my second year at WCU, I was accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program at East Tennessee State University,” she said. “I am currently in my fourth and final year of my PharmD program.”
Once she graduates from pharmacy school, she plans to continue post-graduate training. “My plan is to complete two years of residency in order to become a practicing ambulatory care pharmacist,” she said. “Pharmacists in this capacity are integrated into a doctor’s office. This will allow me to work in a team-based setting and provide comprehensive, long-term care for my patients. My goal for the future is to work in primary care office or a Veterans Affairs center.”
Opportunities for the type of pharmacy she plans to do are limited in this region so Owens plans to move to Charlotte with her fiancé. “If possible, I would love to work as a resource with local physicians when needed for consultation, even if I don’t work in the area,” she said. “The great thing about living in this time is the abundant amount of technology that will allow me to communicate with people at home while working farther away.”
She believes pharmacists can create impact through teamwork with physicians for quality healthcare. “We are viewed as the most accessible healthcare profession, which comes with great responsibility,” she added. “What an amazing amount of opportunity to further healthcare in our region.”
Owens always wanted to work in healthcare. “I wasn’t sure in what capacity. I took as many high school health-sciences classes as possible. Our teachers exposed me to all of the different career paths and encouraged me to continue that path,” she said. “I was also impacted by the limited resources in our area. Our location hinders our access to specialists many people need to see. I saw this first-hand when my mom had to wait one and a half years for a proper diagnosis of severe allergies. The physicians in our area are excellent and do the best they can with their resources; however, there are many things they don’t have proper access to that can affect the healthcare of the population of Clay County as a whole.”
Owens credits much of her success to her mother, Angel Owens. The single mom raised Hillary and her older sister, Tiffany, while working full time at Clay County Schools. “My mom played a huge role in where I am now. She never had a doubt about where I would end up,” she smiled. “For as long as I could remember, mom said I was going to be a pharmacist. I argued with her as long as I could until I finally had to admit she was right. She not only helped me decide where I would end up, but she gave me the resources to be successful in everything I do. Without her, I would not be the woman I am today and I would not have ended up in pharmacy.”
In addition, the numerous local scholarships awarded to Owens, assisted with paying for college. These included scholarships from Hayesville Youth Basketball, Clay County Tractor Club, Shooting Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Farm Bureau, SECU and London Scholarships. “I was able to finish two years of my undergraduate education without taking out loans,” she said. “This helped a lot because graduate school is really expensive and I wasn’t in debt when I started.”
Owens continued by thanking her teachers and community. “For pushing me to achieve my goals,” she said. “Amy Trout and Christy Caruso played a major role in my decision to pursue a career in healthcare. They pushed me to be my best inside and outside of the classroom.”
Hillary ended with this advice to 2022 grads. “A little piece of advice for high schoolers trying to decide what they want to do after graduation, don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and don’t expect to know exactly what you want to do when you graduate.”
She added, “It took me about three to four years to figure out where I wanted to end up once I finish my degree. If I hadn’t kept an open mind, I never would have found my love for the profession of pharmacy and our patients. Keep in mind that every career is different and your path to your chosen career may not line up with the ‘traditional’ path. Stay positive and try your best to find something you are passionate about.”