2024 PSD Kinesiology: Kathy Pannell
We can’t always walk direct paths to our passions. Take Kathy, for example. She spent her years after high school as a mother and customer service rep for local companies. But she’d always wanted to go back to school.
It was in her 40s that she stepped back into academics. Not only had she taken time off to raise three children, she had battled breast cancer. Kathy knew she’d have to act on her dream of a college education if she ever wanted it to come true.
She enrolled in Integrative Health and Wellness Studies at Cypress College, one of the few colleges to offer the program. The holistic approach to well-being had always rung true to her, for her own health and that of those around her, and being able to pursue this field has been gratifying personally and satisfying as a career choice. At Cypress, she also participated in the Cypress College Wellness Collaborative, which brings integrative health opportunities to faculty and staff, further spreading the message of total wellness.
Kathy will continue studying this topic after earning her degree. She not only wants to work toward her goals but also lay a path for others to achieve personal growth and health.
Please tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up? What are your interests? What is your story?
My name is Kathy Pannell, and I’m a 49-year-old mother of three. I’ve been married for 22 years and have spent most of my life here in Southern California. I was born in Seoul, South Korea, to an African-American Army veteran and a Vietnamese mother from Saigon. My elementary years were spent in Carson, while my later years were in nearby Norwalk.
During the last few years, I have taken a serious interest in health and wellness. Previously, I’dspent most of my adult life doing customer service for two companies. The onset of COVID-19 abruptly ended my work in that field and gave me the time and opportunity to start anew. That catalyst sparked my passion even more to go back to school and reinvent myself in a field that I was actually excited about.
What are you most passionate about? Why?
My passion is most certainly my family. My husband and kids are my why. They are the reason I chose to go back to school in my mid 40s. The financial and emotional security of my family during the early dark days of the pandemic kept me wanting to strive even more. The love and connection that I have with my family is what made me survive breast cancer in 2022 and maintain my GPA all while simultaneously keeping my household intact. They are what motivate me to do what I do.
Why did you choose Cypress College?
I’ve always wanted to attend Cypress College, ever since I worked nearby as a young woman many years ago I just loved the campus layout and, more importantly, the feedback was always positive from people who I knew enrolled at the school. I always knew that I would eventually find my way here. Very few schools in the area offer Integrative Health and Wellness studies, and because I was already familiar with the level of excellence of the professors at Cypress College, it was an easy choice to select Cypress College for this pathway.
What have you been involved in at Cypress College? How has your path unfolded?
I’m involved with the Cypress College Wellness Collaborative which offers community yoga and meditation open to all students, faculty, and staff at Cypress College. The classes are facilitated by Professor Sam Gould and Professor Silvie Grote, and offer gentle and therapeutic yoga postures with breathing and meditation practices. I’ve had some personal health challenges that would devastate most people. Joining the wellness community at Cypress College and participating in the yoga and meditation practices helped me to overcome the stress and anxiety that was a debilitating aspect of the health challenges I experienced. I encourage more people to learn and participate more in the yoga and meditation therapy path to help them achieve the health and wellness they deserve. A great start is looking into the Integrative Health and Wellness studies program at Cypress College to gain more insight into whole body health and natural and alternative therapies for overall wellness.
Share a memorable event/experience while you’ve been a Cypress College student.
A memorable event at Cypress College was very early on when I had just enrolled for the first time. It was a welcome to new students event with food, free giveaways, and music. This may be pretty mundane for some, but for me it really felt like the “red carpet” was being rolled out for a 40- something-year-old such as myself. It made me feel like I was making the right decision.
Another memorable experience was when I received a phone call from the Cypress College Foundation to notify me that I was the recipient of multiple scholarships for writing an excellent essay sharing my personal struggles and adversities that I faced in life and while attending Cypress College. I still think about that phone call today and I get emotional every time I think about it.
Who are the faculty and staff (in your major, an academic or other support program, etc.) who have helped you get where you are today?
Professor Sam Gould, Professor Silvie Grote, and Professor Tracy Van Herk were all instrumental in my success within the Kinesiology Department. They all pushed me to a level that I was not initially comfortable with but wound up being extremely grateful for.. They took me out of my comfort zone and showed me that I had the potential to do much more. Now I am proud to say that I am a scholar representing the Kinesiology Department due in part to their guidance and vision.
How has Cypress College supported you throughout your time at the college?
Cypress College has been beyond supportive. Whether by allowing me to intern or by writing letters of recommendation, my professors have gone above and beyond on my behalf. Also, the knowledge that I have gained in my courses has given me life-changing skills and insight on a professional, personal, and spiritual level. I am also thankful for the guidance of the school administrators who have guided me through the gauntlet of financial aid and keeping me on track with a roadmap that optimized my potential for success.
What are your immediate plans after completing your studies at Cypress College (at your transfer institution, in the workforce, etc.)?
After completing my studies at Cypress College, I plan to take a break! In all seriousness, I plan to build on my time here and continue my studies by adding another degree in the field of health and wellness. In addition, I do intend to go back into the workforce this fall and gain real-world experience in my new career.
What are your long-term goals? What do you aspire to?
In the long term, I plan on working in the public sector spearheading initiatives that would bring about healthier outcomes in underserved communities. I also aspire to build my private business as a CPR instructor, teaching the latest life-saving techniques to families and healthcare professionals alike.
What are you most proud of?
What I am most proud of is the work and sacrifices that were made to get to this point. The end result of having a degree in my respective field was the purpose, but I take great pride in the journey along the way.
What bit of advice would you give to current and future Cypress College students?
The bit of advice that I would give to current and future Cypress College students would be to finish the job. What I mean by that is to never give up. Going to college can be a challenge for anyone but the benefits of having a degree make it all worthwhile long-term.
Is there anyone in particular you’d like to thank?
There are so many people that I would like to thank on an individual basis but it is truly difficult to just pick one. Personally, I would like to thank Cypress College as an institution for having such an outstanding array of instructors and faculty that have helped me get to where I am today.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I would like to part with this message. As I embark on my second act in life, I will proudly represent Cypress College as an alumna not only in my place of business, but also in the nonprofit that I intend to start to help breast cancer survivors have a new lease on life. I will indeed be grateful for the professional benefits that will surely come from having a degree. But the biggest impact that I intend to have is in my service to others. That will be my legacy