As students rush through the doors of Fresh Food Company at The 90, Stephanie Owens greets them with a warm smile and a cheerful, “How you doin’, baby?”

For many University of Kentucky students, Owens’ voice is the first bit of kindness they hear all day. But behind that bright smile is a story of resilience, one that began in Lexington’s East End, where Owens became a mother at just 13.

Owens said she came from humble beginnings. She was raised by a single mother in the projects, where she learned the value of hard work.

She said she applies this to daily life by encouraging students and spreading kindness as a cashier at The 90.

“I chose to work at the University of Kentucky because seeing the youth doing something positive with their life is amazing to me,” Owens said.

According to Owens, she knows what it feels like to be ignored, saying she got pregnant at a very young age, which led to a lot of judgment and negative comments in school. So, Owens said she expresses kindness in every way she can.

“If it’s just me being kind, even on days where I’m having a totally bad day, I still come to work happy, and don’t let it show,” Owens said. “You never know whose day you’re going to change by being kind.”

As a result of students coming up to her and saying nice things, Owens said she likes coming to work every day, which is something she never experienced with her past jobs.

“It’s my motivation to come to work every day just to see the students,” Owens said.

Owens reflected on a time where a student came to her crying during the first week of school. Owens said she gave the student encouragement and prayed with her.

“That one person can change someone’s mood for the whole day, and that’s a blessing to me,” Owens said.

The energy of campus life, Owens said, often makes her think of the college years she never got to experience.

Now the mother of a 2-year-old boy and a 21-year-old woman, she uses what she learned from raising her daughter to ingrain the importance of sports and college into her son.

Owens said she sees her son’s success as a student-athlete as the key to making college financially possible.

“I didn’t drill college into my daughter, but as far as my son goes, I know sports in school is going to be my main thing with him,” Owens said. “I’m seeing all these other kids do it, and if they can do it, I can push my son to do it.”

According to Owens, her grandmother was a huge inspiration in her life, saying she still carries her encouragement to be kind to this day.

“She has always been my spiritual advisor and my positive go-to, and someone that pushes me to do right all the time,” Owens said.

Owens loves her job and the students she sees each day. Just as they motivate her to show up with a smile, she encourages them to keep pushing through school, even when it gets hard.

“You fall, you might fall short, but pick yourself back up at all times,” Owens said.

It is a lesson Owens learned a long time ago, and one she now passes to every student she meets.