Childhood in Kenya inspires young Michigan-born student’s desire to write

Born into a devout Christian family in Adrian, Michigan, Micah Owens moved to Kenya with his family when he was 10, spending the next eight years at boarding school there. He then returned to the United States as a creative writing major at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where he is pursuing an M.A. in literary editing and publishing through USC Dornsife’s Progressive Degree Program.

Now a senior, Owens is the latest winner of the USC Dornsife Creative Writing Contest, an achievement he calls “an amazing moment of validation. This is my first major publication and win, so it made me feel that there is real potential for my future as a writer.”

Owens recently answered questions about his unusual life path, how it inspires him to write and what brought him to USC Dornsife.

You wrote your winning poem, “Genealogy,” in a poetry workshop during your junior year. What inspired it?

It’s a poem that grapples with feeling cut off from your history but finding solace in the fact that you can start the legacy anew. That sense of displacement — of having one foot in multiple cultures and not knowing exactly where home is — comes directly from my life. That uncertainty informs a lot of my work.

How did moving to Kenya just before your 11th birthday shape the way you see the world and approach writing?

At first, it felt like a grand adventure. I was too young to fully understand what was happening, but being exposed to so many cultures, people and landscapes at such a young age deeply influenced me. It showed me the beauty of the world, gave me a better understanding of other perspectives and broadened my worldview. That fostered a desire to write.

What struck you most about Kenya when you first arrived?

What stood out most to me was the generosity and hospitality of the people. I lived in a small town, Kijabe, in the Rift Valley, about 8,000 feet above sea level. It’s incredibly beautiful — lush forests, views stretching across the valley and wildlife everywhere — and an extraordinary place to live.

What were some of the challenges you faced while living overseas?

I attended an international boarding school, which helped ease some transitions, but my parents moved around frequently, living in other African countries while I remained in Kenya for school. That was difficult; I was essentially on my own in a country I was still learning to navigate. Visiting my parents in a remote village in the Central African Republic was eye-opening. There, you see people living with immense need, affected by violence and instability. Witnessing that reality had a lasting impact on me.

When did writing shift from something you enjoyed to something you felt you needed to do?

That shift happened during the years I spent at boarding school in Kenya, around eighth and ninth grade. It was a turbulent time for me personally, and writing became a way for me to process everything I was feeling and experiencing. Poetry, especially, gave me a freedom that normal speech couldn’t. It allowed me to express things fully, without restriction. Writing became something essential in my daily life.

You chose USC Dornsife to study under renowned writers. How has their mentorship shaped your voice?

I knew I had stories to tell but hadn’t found the voice for them, and so I needed to learn from those who had. USC Dornsife was the place for that. Studying under writers like Robin Coste Lewis, Percival Everett, Aimee Bender and Ellen Wayland-Smith exposed me to a wide range of styles and approaches. Each professor pushed me in different directions and encouraged experimentation. One of the most valuable lessons was learning how much freedom there really is in writing — across genres, forms and voices.

You work across poetry and playwriting. What draws you to those forms?

Poetry, for me, captures emotion in a way nothing else can. One professor once described playwriting as “poetry that stands up and walks around,” and I love that idea. Poetry feels intimate, while playwriting allows my words to come alive through other people. Seeing language move from the page to the stage is incredibly powerful.

Your poetry has appeared in USC Dornsife’s online student publication, Palaver Arts Magazine, while your one-act play, Death Goes on a Date, was staged by Brand New Theatre, a USC student theatre organization. How have those early validations shaped your confidence or expectations for the future?

They’ve helped me understand that while rejections are inevitable, the successes you do experience make it all worthwhile. Many of these moments came at important points in my life and have been incredibly encouraging.

Do you write every day?

I try to. I’m very much an inspiration-driven writer. Sometimes I won’t write much at all, and then I’ll have a few days where I’m writing nonstop. I’m working on building consistency, but I’ve learned to accept that my process comes in waves.

You’re pursuing an MA in literary editing and publishing. How has editing influenced your own writing?

Editing has given me a much stronger critical eye. Reading and analyzing other people’s work so closely has helped me understand structure, development and revision in my own writing.

Looking ahead to a career in publishing, what kinds of voices do you hope to support?

I’m drawn to voices that are underrepresented and stories that feel new, especially those rooted in mythology, culture and the fantastical. Publishing can be very commercial, but I want to help uplift writers who are telling meaningful, imaginative stories that draw from diverse backgrounds.

For students who feel disconnected from their past or uncertain about their creative voice, what advice would you offer?

That feeling is far more common than people realize. Being unanchored can feel like drifting in an ocean, but it also offers incredible freedom. You’re not bound by a single narrative — you get to decide who you are and choose your own direction. That freedom, while scary, can be deeply enriching.

Read Owens’ winning entry along with submissions from contest runners up in USC Dornsife Magazine.

USC Dornsife alumni and students who wish enter the next USC Dornsife Creative Writing Contest may submit their entries here. The deadline is March 15.