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Being A Nurse Is Her Dream. Now, Kelli Bowdy Has To Pick A College

Lara Solt
/
KERA News special contributor
Kelli Bowdy's cousin, Dianette Ewing, helps her get ready for her prom at her home in Forest Hill, Texas on Saturday, May 13, 2017.

Kelli Bowdy, a senior at O.D. Wyatt High in Fort Worth, wants to be a nurse — she took special classes through school to make it happen. She’s planning to go to college. But, first, it's time for prom.

It’s a full house at the Forest Hill home where Kelli lives with her mom. Preparing for prom isn’t just a day jammed with details. For Kelli, it’s a family affair.

Her aunt Loria, her mom’s identical twin, is at the house. So is 21-year-old Tanisha Williams, who says her cousin Kelli is more like her little sister. Williams actually made Kelli’s prom dress.

“She’s always been smart. Well, her grades show it," Williams says. "I mean, she helped me with some work before when I was in school. So she’s smart — proud of you, Kip.”

Kelli's other cousin, Dianette Ewig, 26, is working on Kelli’s makeup.

“I was very excited when she said she wanted to be a nurse, because I’m one,” Ewig says.

Nursing kind of runs in the family.

Read the entire story about Kelli Bowdy in our American Graduate series, The Class of '17.

Bill Zeeble has been a full-time reporter at KERA since 1992, covering everything from medicine to the Mavericks and education to environmental issues.