Meet Lowie. As the oldest of three siblings, much was expected of Lowie and he felt pressure to take on the father role of caring for his family. When his single-mom passed away Lowie felt alone trying to make a way forward. At only 15 years old, he became responsible for providing for his family even while he was still grieving.
To help with everyday expenses, Lowie had to rent out their family home and go to live with his aunt. It was still not enough, so Lowie had to drop out of school to find a job. It was a time of so much sadness and confusion, and all Lowie wanted was for his family to make it. He was willing to make any sacrifice necessary, even though it meant working full time. He shared, “I was thinking about what would happen to us, being the eldest, we were depending on my actions.” Lowie says that he matured early by taking on so much responsibility, and this eventually led him to leave for the big city.
He worked in administrative roles and factories for over 10 years to put his sister through college and make a living. There was never any time for rest and Lowie was on the edge of burning out. That was when his grandfather passed away and he was forced to return home. Under the sad circumstances Lowie was reminded how much he missed his hometown and knew he could not return to the exhausting city life. He needed space to breathe and recover after working so hard for so long.
He involved himself in the community to make friends, and it was one of his new friends that introduced him to Dignity. Lowie started working at Dignity and found a sense of belonging and happiness he had never experienced before. He began to show up for pre-shift meetings to see people and work even when he was not on shift because he loved the environment so much. He was thankful to finally live a life focused on what was important to him. Dignity gave him the opportunity to finish his education after he had spent so many years providing for others. Lowie continues to take the opportunities in front of him and remains a rock for his family.
