Meet Owen Poling, a Chinese-American from Lancaster, Ohio! Owen graduated from Bloom-Carroll High School this past May and is looking forward to attending Albion College this fall in Michigan. Owen was born with Microtia and Atresia of his right ear. In Owen’s application letter, he spoke about growing up over the years and enduring stares from the public. He expressed how much the stares hurt him and how angry this made him – realizing that people thought that just by staring at his ear would do no harm to him.
One night while watching TV with his parents, the topic of ear surgery came up. Even though Owen was old enough for ear reconstructive surgery, he felt that something was holding him back from making this decision. Owen’s parents reminded him how much he is loved! Owen also realized that this is who he is and that by changing how he looks would not help others or himself. This was the night that Owen decided he was not changing how he looks! Embracing his smaller ear, he decided that he would keep his ear just the way it was in hopes of helping others just like him know that it is okay to be unique.
Over the years, Owen has come to believe that thanks to the many public stares and questions asked, they have helped him become a stronger person. Owen plans on majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology at Albion College, earning his bachelors in science degree. He plans to continue on to graduate school, becoming a genetic counselor. Owen realizes that thanks to experiencing life with his congenital little ear, this has created a fascination in him for genetics and biotechnology, such as gene editing.
Owen is thankful for the decision he made that night with his parents, while watching TV. He hopes to help others just like him know that you can still be strong and achieve your goals in life while being unique. Owen says he will continue to inhale faith and exhale fear as he continues on his journey.
A special thank you to Brent Newcomb, President of Ecofin, and the Board of Directors at Ecofin Investments, for making this scholarship possible for Ear Community to shine on some of it’s beautiful community members like Owen.
We are so proud of Owen! We look forward to the positive change that Owen will bring for so many others with his future career in genetics! Most of all, congratulations to Owen for being accepting and loving of himself and embracing his unique little ear. You have a bright future ahead of you, Owen!
Congratulations, Owen! Do great things!
The Ear Community Organization
https://earcommunity.org/events/great-memories/
