Benton fourth-grader Rowen Reid has a personality that can light up a room. Being super kind is her thing. As she humbly admits this to be true, she displays the kind of smile that would cause even the most cynical to believe. Rowen loves music, writing, and animals. She has also befriended a new student who speaks Spanish as his
native language and has greatly enjoyed welcoming him to Benton, just as others had welcomed her years ago when her family moved from Springfield.

“I think this new kid is from Mexico. I’ve been getting along really good with him,” says Rowen. She adds that her
outgoing acts of kindness were recently recognized. “I’ve got this little note that I’ve been doing really great. And I get a free cheeseburger from McDonalds.”

Our discussion darts from topic to topic, yet Rowen remains universally upbeat and energetic regardless of the subject. She is a genuinely curious and passionate young lady whose attention and energy feel endless.

Rowen moved to Benton when she was in kindergarten. While she enjoyed attending preschool in Springfield and her grandparents still live in the area, she says she loves living in Benton. When asked what she loves about the area, she focuses on the school system, sharing it’s “pretty good
here. I love school. It’s so fun,” before adding, “My best friend forever (or, as Rowen calls her, her BFF), Ellie, lives here.”

Rowen especially enjoys recess when Ellie and she can go outside and play on the swings. Rowen loves to swim, wrestle, and run. She continues, “We did track and field
today in PE. Last year I was the second fastest girl ever, but this year, I wasn’t.”

Rowen loves all her teachers, especially Ms. Fitzpatrick, as her favorite subject is art. She also enjoys math but admits she’s not a big reader except for some Pokémon books and books about animals, as she “absolutely loves animals.”

This love of animals runs deep, but she especially loves cats and dogs and is passionate about preserving stray animals. She has a Rottweiler named Layla, who once rescued her. Rowen beams with pride when sharing that a wild raccoon with rabies tried to bite her, but Layla “stepped up and saved me.” She laughs before adding that Layla “can also be a lazy bum, sometimes.”

Rowen is the oldest of three and has two younger brothers. Eli is in second grade and Casper is three years old. The family recently got a pet ferret named Cobbler, who is four months old. Cobbler is peach and white and loves water.
Rowen laughs and suggests, “She goes crazy in it.”

As she looks into the future, Rowen says she wants to be a pet-sitter when she grows up. She admits that she’s a bit scared to transition into fifth grade. Entering a new
building, she says she’s sad to “have to say goodbye to that big playground outside.” But she smiles excitedly and adds, “But there will be new opportunities.”

New opportunities will always be waiting for those who seize life passionately. From moving from Springfield to Benton and meeting Ellie to befriending a new student with a unique story to leaving behind that doorway with the painted motto and big old playground, life will continue to unfold, one chapter after another. And Rowen will continue to show up with passion and kindness, seizing life and all its beauty while lighting up the room with her big, bright smile.