Meet OCSD alumna, Jackie (Rowe) Gerhardt, Class of 2002.

Jackie always loved being involved in drama club at Oneida High School — both performing on stage and working behind the scenes on makeup crew. She shared that she feels incredibly fortunate to once again be involved with the OHS Drama Club.

Following graduation, Jackie attended Utica College from 2002–2005, but did not complete her education at that time due to undiagnosed ADHD. She later got married, raised three children, and spent more than 15 years working as an in-home daycare provider.

Last summer, Jackie retired from daycare and returned to college at SUNY Empire State. She is currently in her senior year, maintains a 4.0 GPA, has earned Dean’s List honors twice, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development. Jackie plans to continue on to graduate school to study either social work or mental health counseling.

Currently, Jackie serves as the costumer for the Oneida High School Drama Club. The group recently completed its production of Chicago, which she described as phenomenal. She also works part-time at the Oneida Library, but her primary focus right now is completing her degree and continuing her education journey.

To future graduates, Jackie offers this advice: “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.” Sometimes life doesn’t go as you planned it to, but it’s never too late to try to finish something you started, or start over again. I’m freshly 42 years old, and I’m starting over - it’s scary, but it’s also thrilling, and I can’t wait to see where life takes me after college."