Living life to the fullest – MC grad inspires fellow rheumatoid arthritis patientsDecember 10, 2024

In 2011, when Kelsei Yow was a senior at Greenwood High School, doctors diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis; however, she didn’t let that slow her down one bit. When she enrolled in Midland College the following fall, she immediately got involved in college life, first as a member of the Chaps dance team and later as an MC cheerleader. She was also active in intramurals and enjoyed flag football, basketball, ping pong tournaments and sand volleyball. In addition, she served as a Midland College Ambassador. She even starred in a 2012 MC commercial that featured her skateboarding skills.

“I’ve always enjoyed being active and participating in extra-curricular activities,” Yow explained. In high school, I played volleyball, basketball, softball, and I ran track. I was also a member of the National Honor Society and helped tutor elementary school students. I just can’t imagine not getting involved and enjoying life to the fullest.”

After graduating from MC, Yow obtained a personal trainer certificate specializing in golf, and she worked at Green Tree Country Club for four years. Other former jobs include working part-time as an office manager for a water transfer supply company and then full time in management and sales for the same company. She also takes health and fitness very seriously.

“During my years as a personal trainer, I did a lot of research on rheumatoid arthritis and through working with my doctor, I found the right medication for me,” she said. “Then, by trial and error, I also learned to manage symptoms through diet. I discovered that sugar, sodium and alcohol are big triggers for me, so I’ve learned to really control my intake of those things. However, I can still tell you when it’s going to rain or a cold front is on the way because that’s when my joints hurt the most!”

Even today with a hectic work schedule as Senior Business Operations Manager for Patriot Safety & Services, Yow still finds time for working out and staying healthy. Through social media, she also connects with teens and young adults who are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

“I mainly offer them words of encouragement and let them know that I have been living a full and active life with rheumatoid arthritis for over 10 years,” Yow said. “I tell them what works with me for coping with the pain. It’s been great to get to know some of these people, and having that network has really helped me, as well.”

Part of Yow’s full and active life includes a passion for music. She said that she enjoys all genres of music and going to concerts of any kind, but Motown and Classic Rock are her favorites.

“I’ve always loved music!” she exclaimed. “When I was at Midland College, I think I took every music class available including drums, guitar and piano. I still play all those instruments, as well as the baritone ukulele. Midland College has a great music department. I also took music theory and voice lessons. My new musical goal is to learn to play the trumpet, saxophone and banjo.”

Her love of music isn’t just limited to playing instruments. During the COVID pandemic when she was furloughed from her job for four months, she helped film a music video in College Station and Huntsville for the Jack Nelson Band.

She said that while she has always had an affinity for music, she learned to also love history while at Midland College.

“I used to hate history, but at Midland College, my professors made it fun,” she said.

She said that two of her favorite MC history professors were Dr. Todd Houck, who is currently MC’s Henry Chair of History, and Dr. Damon Kennedy, who is now Midland College president.

In her spare time, besides golf, skateboarding, exercising and playing instruments, Yow enjoys traveling to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to visit her father’s family. One year while there, she even got to experience her first hurricane party! She said that her favorite close-to-home vacation spot (where there are definitely no hurricanes) is Lake Alan Henry near Lubbock between Post and Snyder where she enjoys another love — water sports.