Going the Distance: Joey Bowman’s First Semester at STLCC

June 04, 2025

Posted by STLCC-Wildwood in Campus Life 

A few weeks into the winter that made headlines for record-setting frozen precipitation and subzero temperatures across the St. Louis region, Joey Bowman, 19, was still getting around on his bike. And so, on a frigid morning in mid-January, Bowman awoke at 7:30 sharp, ate his customary breakfast of Dave’s Killer Bread and Greek yogurt, bundled up, and pedaled two miles from his Wildwood home to his first day of classes at St. Louis Community College (STLCC). The ride was slippery, but that’s not why his stomach felt fluttery. He was nervous and excited about steering into a new phase of his life.

As Bowman pulled up to the bike rack, Wildwood Campus President Stephen White, EdD—who was in the lobby greeting students for Welcome Week—spotted him through the plate glass windows. Bowman bounded into the building, his face flushed from the cold air. Dr. White approached, shook Bowman’s hand and offered him a fitting first-day gift: a cozy STLCC scarf. “That was pretty cool,” Bowman said, looking back.

A disciplined athlete and former wrestler at Fort Zumwalt West High School, Bowman knew how to push himself physically. When it came to academics, however, he struggled to find the same drive. In the transition from high school to college, he had something to prove, mostly to himself: could he channel that determination to win toward his education? 

Wrapping up his crucial first semester of college, Bowman has come a long way in a short period of time. With the help of a solid support system at STLCC—his professors and advisors, new student programs, and academic success and tutoring—he’s learning to balance college studies with his workouts and a part-time job as a lifeguard at the Wildwood Family YMCA. “I feel like being successful is actually pretty simple after I’ve come here,” he said. “You just have to do the right thing.”

From High School Uncertainty to College Confidence

Near the end of his senior year, Bowman wasn’t sure what came next. He dreamed of becoming a lawyer but didn’t feel ready for a four-year university. High school had been tough—family turmoil and switching schools in his junior year knocked him off track. “High school wasn’t the best time in my life,” he says. “I just wasn’t in a good mindset.”

Wrestling was his constant. It gave his life structure and purpose; it cleared his head. His commitment to academics, on the other hand, was cloudy. “Honestly, I just passed,” Bowman said. Although he had opportunities to continue wrestling at a Division III college, he felt going that route wouldn’t help him grow. He briefly considered the Coast Guard but chose instead to take a break from school and work as a lifeguard.

Things began to fall into place when Bowman and his father Brian, 42, relocated from O’Fallon, Mo. to Wildwood later that year. Their conversations often returned to Brian’s own positive experience at STLCC, where he earned an Associate of Applied Science in network engineering in 2014. He spoke highly of the college’s strong instruction and affordability—ultimately convincing Joey that it could be the right next step for him, too.

One crisp morning in November, Bowman hopped on his bike and rode to the STLCC-Wildwood campus, set on enrolling for spring semester. By the end of the day, he was registered for 12 credit hours and had applied for a lifeguard job at the neighboring YMCA.

Daily Routines of Students: An Athlete’s Approach to College Work

Bowman homed in on a key piece of advice during Archer Orientation: take advantage of the resources available at STLCC. From the start, he made a point to regularly connect with his advisor and the staff at academic success and tutoring (AS&T) to stay on track. He also attended every First Year Experience study skills workshop he could.

Kathy Petroff, professional reading tutor and academic coach with AS&T at Wildwood, remembers the day Bowman came in for help with time management. “We spent an hour and a half mapping out his assignment deadlines and exam schedule for the whole semester,” she said. “It’s a classic time management exercise. But what’s impressive is that Joey really used this as a roadmap for a successful semester.”

“The tutoring has helped me immeasurably,” Bowman said. “I go to tutoring a lot for math because I’m not a math whiz. I also sit in there and study. It’s a good environment with everyone around you focused on learning.” With support for math, time management, note-taking, and more, Bowman is building skills that will help him thrive throughout college.

A rock-solid study routine helps him stay focused on his goals: when class ends, the homework begins. Bowman tackles assignments immediately—often staying on campus into the evening to work until everything is done. There are times when he doesn’t feel like doing it, he admits, but he pushes through anyway. Then, as a reward, he heads to the gym or joins a Jiu Jitsu class to unwind. His “just do it” approach has become key to balancing academics, fitness, and a part-time job.

Life at College

While Bowman doesn’t have much time for extracurriculars, he’s found one student club that he enjoys a lot. The Music Appreciation group meets every two weeks, with members taking turns sharing presentations about their favorite artists, albums, songs, or genres. Recently, Bowman gave a talk on the German techno band And One. “It was great to talk about the music I like because it’s not really mainstream,” he said. “It was fun to explain it to a group of people—and they got to learn something new. I get to learn something from them, too.”

“I stay in my own lane most of the time,” Bowman said. “I like being busy and I don't like too many distractions. I like just getting my work done, coming to school, going to the gym, making food, going to sleep, and doing the same thing over again. It's the same thing every day, but that adds up to a good thing.

“There are people here [at Wildwood]—professors and classmates—who make it very enjoyable,” Bowman said. “It’s fun to be in class with them. And I really enjoy walking around the halls, talking to people in my class, just being with people my age and not my age.”

A Strong Finish

At the end of his first semester at STLCC, Bowman is earning grades that seemed out of reach in high school: As and Bs. “I just proved something to myself,” he said, “that I can sit down and learn. It just makes me feel really happy that I’m here. This is probably what I needed, honestly.”

Future plans include attending STLCC-Wildwood for summer and fall semesters. A general transfer associate degree is a possibility, Bowman said, but all roads are hopefully leading to Mizzou, where he plans to transfer.

Lately, Bowman has been getting around by car more often than bike. “I can go to more places,” he said, “but I’ll still probably ride my bike to school in the summer.”

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