On key with his future: Teenager is an overachiever, but still knows how to have fun

While most kids his age are worried about getting a driver's license and passing high school algebra, 16-year-old James Bowen of Corcoran has other things on his mind.

He started taking college classes at age 13.

He began playing the piano 10 years ago and now is mastering the pipe organ.

He has traveled to 47 of the 50 states.

Although Bowen is an overachiever by any standard, he is still a teenager who likes to have fun.

"I really enjoy backpacking and do a lot of horseback riding," Bowen said. "I love the outdoors."

Bowen has been home-schooled his whole life.

"I am glad I did home-schooling," Bowen said. "You can travel at your own speed, you don't have ridiculous busy work and you can focus on subjects you want to."

Bowen's mom made sure her son knew more than just the books.

"Home-schooling was never just books and music, but hands-on community service," Heather Bowen said.

Both Bowen and his 13-year-old brother, Alex, know how to cook, clean and even split wood.

The Bowen family has a tradition. As often as they can, the family gets fruit from a packing shed and delivers it to churches around the community.

"We call it our 'Fruit Ministries,' " Heather said. "In the summer we do it every week, but it really depends on the availability of the fruit. Sometimes we even pick it ourselves."

Bowen enjoys the community activities he does with his family, but mostly enjoys the big trips his family takes every two to three years.

"We just took a field trip to Alaska," Bowen said. "We saw Mt. McKinley and a lot of wildlife just out in the open."

Bowen's favorite places he has visited are Tennessee, Alaska and some of the northeastern states.

"I love the scenery and the climate," Bowen said. "They have much better temperatures than here."

As much as Bowen loves the outdoors and traveling, music may be his biggest passion. He loves classical music with Bach being his favorite musician.

"He wrote the most pipe organ pieces and I love his intricate counterpoint and the complexity of the pieces and the tunes," Bowen said.

Bowen has mastered a few of Bach's pieces and continues to work on more. He has played in churches all over California, from Shasta to Palm Desert. He'll go wherever he's invited.

"I have played at Crystal Cathedral and Our Ladies of Angels, the new cathedral in Los Angeles worth $200 million," Bowen said.

Bowen is also a substitute organist at several different churches and plays part time at the Tulare United Methodist Church.

Bowen continues taking piano from the same teacher he started with, Jean Hwang.

"When I think of James, I think of somebody who works very hard," Hwang said. "He deserves the rewards he is receiving now. He is a very faithful student, one who practices very hard."

Bowen wants to continue his music beyond the classes he is taking at College of the Sequoias. He has been accepted to Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tenn., where he will major in music and pre-med. He hopes to start there next fall.

"I am trying to get scholarships for my music so I can pay for college," Bowen said.

Bowen's mother is in full support of all he has done and has been a big help in his successes.

"It is great to be strong academically and musically, but if you don't have the feelings of wanting to help people, that strong Christian ethic, then I haven't taught you right," Heather said. "I don't want him to have a proud spirit.

"Home-schooling can be rewarding, it is a whole lot of work. For us, it has been very rewarding."

When Bowen is asked the highlight of all his hard work through home-schooling and his music, his answer is no surprise.

"Getting to go to college early," Bowen said. "That's the best."

Rebekah Herbert is a journalism student at California State University, Fresno.

(Nov. 8, 2004)