I didn’t recognize Sheila when I interviewed her but she told me later that she had interviewed the year before for the same job and I hadn’t hired her. Undeterred, she had come back for another interview when a new opening occurred. The second time I was smart enough to hire her.

Sheila had changed; she looked different and had refined her approach to the job interview. I assume this is why I didn’t recognize her, she looked and acted differently the second time I interviewed her. As it turned out she was good at making changes she felt she needed for her professional and personal life.

I hired her to be an Outreach Worker, to knock on the door of homes of older people and tell them about services available at the senior citizen’s center and other agencies in the community. She learned the business of social service work quickly and enthusiastically. She was eager to go out and help people.

Sheila was good with older people; she loved to talk with them. Because of her “people skills,” they trusted her. Many of them came to the senior citizen’s center as a result of her visits and continued their contact with her.

Sometimes Sheila saw people who needed extra help. Often they either didn’t know there was anyone to help them or were too proud to ask for help. Sheila could put them at ease and guide them through the red tape of community and government assistance programs.

Sheila grew as a person and as a social service worker while employed at the senior citizen’s center. A few years later she changed jobs and became a supervisor for another agency that works with older people. I knew she would do a good job but she even surprised me. She continued to learn and to make changes. She was quickly promoted to regional supervisor and became a leader in the field of aging.

Sheila was energetic and not afraid of hard work. She was quick to accept new challenges and to learn new things. She made me proud that I hired her and gave her a chance to shine.

Not only did she help older people, in a way she helped to change my life, too. She taught me how important it is to learn new things and make changes if I want to succeed.

Sheila had a desire to succeed, and the energy and will power to carry through. Tragically, she died at a young age and is sadly missed by many. She had succeeded in so many ways, and through her own efforts. She’ll be remembered, not only by all the people she helped but by others who knew her and watched her grow.

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