Finding Purpose

Jordan Schowalter always knew Northern Kentucky University was the place for him, especially after seeing his mom get her master’s degree here. 

“I never had my eyes set on anywhere else,” he says. 

But after graduating from high school, the Campbell County native struggled to decide on a major. He went from general studies to business to social work to computer science and a few others. Even though he had numerous Dean’s List honors and was nominated for the Honor Society two years in a row, nothing felt right to him. He even left NKU at one point to pursue a nursing degree. 

But everything changed when Schowalter decided to return to NKU and give social work another chance. 

“Switching back to social work was the best thing I ever did,” he says. 

Schowalter has been active this semester. He’s put in more than 500 hours of field experience during his co-op with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Campbell County Investigations. 

“I’ve had a lot of jobs, but I’ve never wanted to stay at any of them. It felt like they were placeholder—like I wasn’t doing anything that mattered,” he says. “Starting this job made me feel like I had more of a purpose. It made me realize that I’m doing something that I love.” 

This weekend, Schowalter will graduate with a bachelor’s in social work with a minor in social justice studies and a focus in human services and addictions. In January, he plans to continue serving with the CHFS as a full-time social service worker with a focus on children’s safety and well-being. 

“I really want to break the stigma of CPS. It’s scary when we’re involved, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re not just here for only bad things; we’re here to help. Knowing I’m able to make a difference and do things to help people—not just saying them but doing them and seeing the results—is rewarding for me. That will always be on my mind. I’m very lucky that I get to do this. My team is amazing.”