Personal Growth Archives - Summer Owens S.O. What!

Resilience Under Pressure: The Inspiring Story of Prima Jope

Summer Owens — Mon, 11 May 2026 11:00:01 +0000

What Happens When Pressure Changes You? Some people experience pressure in ways that force them to grow earlier than expected. That was one of the things that stayed with me during my conversation with Prima Jope. As we talked, I kept thinking about how many people are carrying responsibilities they never planned for while still […]

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A Life of Service, Faith, and Purpose: Cary E. Vaughn’s Inspiring Journey

Summer Owens — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:30:50 +0000

A Story of Faith-Centered Leadership and Community Service Growing up in North Memphis, Cary Vaughn faced adversity early in life. Raised in the shadow of his father’s alcoholism and the pain of losing him at a young age, Cary could have allowed these challenges to define his life. But instead, they became the driving force […]

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Leading With Faith and Responsibility: A Leadership Journey That Redefines Success

Summer Owens — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:45 +0000

A Conversation That Makes You Think Some conversations leave you thinking, and that is exactly what happened during my recent S.O. What! Success Stories conversation with Mickell Lowery. Yes, he has the titles. Yes, he has built a strong and credible career across corporate America and public service. But what stood out to me most […]

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Love Yourself: When Purpose Becomes Personal

Summer Owens — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:50:33 +0000

Over a decade ago, I created the Love Yourself Event because I saw a need. During Valentine’s season, while many celebrate romance, others quietly struggle. Some feel lonely. Others question their worth. Many carry silent battles. So, I decided to create a space that focused on self-worth instead of relationship status. And that helps to […]

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From Pain to Power: 15 Years After My Memoir, Here’s What Confidence and Resilience Created

Summer Owens — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 04:42:14 +0000

The number 15 has defined two of the biggest turning points in my life. I was 15 when I became a mother—unprepared, afraid, but determined.And my son was 15 when I published my memoir—an unfiltered story of my journey, my mistakes, and my fight to become the woman and mother I wanted to be. Now, […]

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15 Years Later: How One Inspirational Teen Mom Story Is Still Changing Lives

Summer Owens — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:18:43 +0000

Can you believe it’s been 15 years?! Fifteen years since I shared my truth with the world—the story of getting pregnant on my 15th birthday (thanks for the birthday wishes) and becoming a mother at 15. The story of choosing faith over fear, and of rewriting my future when most thought it was already written. When I […]

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Turning 46: How One Birthday Sparked a Movement to Help Others Overcome Obstacles

Summer Owens — Sat, 24 May 2025 19:07:45 +0000

From One Birthday to a Bigger Purpose What if one day—one birthday—changed the entire course of your life? I was 15 years old when that happened to me. A birthday that should’ve been filled with carefree joy ended with the kind of news that would force me to grow up overnight. It was a moment […]

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Love Yourself This Valentine’s Day: A Journey of Self-Love Through Past Experiences

Summer Owens — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 02:59:23 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day—a day filled with hearts, chocolates, and grand romantic gestures. For some, it’s a day of love and celebration. For others, it’s a reminder of relationships lost, love never found, or expectations that fell short. I’ve lived through both extremes. I’ve had Valentine’s Days that made me feel cherished, and others that left […]

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Celebrating Grandparents Day: How I Turned Grief Into Something Grief On My Grandparents Day First Without My Grandmas

Summer Owens — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:05:48 +0000

This Grandparents Day is bittersweet for me. It’s the first one without my grandmothers, Agnes Idella “Dorothy” Jones Owens and Ocie Lee Woods Williams, who both transitioned this year. They were two of the strongest, wisest women I’ve ever known, and they lived nearly a century each, shaping my life with love, resilience, and humor. […]

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