Sondra did well in school, excelled in art, and graduated with her high school diploma even though the family moved fifteen times as she was growing up. Teaching and nursing were common professions for women at that time; however, Sondra’s parents did not encourage further education. It seemed the expectation around her was that a girl finished high school, got married and had children.
So she, too, married soon out of school and had a family, raising three children. Although she was employed in some “odd jobs,” she relied on her husband for support as she raised the children and looked after the home.
When her marriage ended, Sondra thought she would never be able to walk out the door of what had been her home for so long, leaving most of her things. But she felt she had no choice, and was surprised to realize that it did not hurt as much as she had thought. She was surprised to discover the strength she had.
A consequence of divorce was that she lost relatives and friends who had been a major support for her. She also lost her role as “mom” when the kids grew up. With such major changes in her life, Sondra found herself “emotionally crashing,” and went to a doctor for help with anxiety and depression. Medication helped her to function as she sought the inner resolve she needed to put her life back together. Her faith helped her. She convinced herself to get out of bed, shower, dress up nice, put on her make-up, and go out the door, having gotten “off the pride trip” and having made the decision to seek help.

She volunteered at the hospital to keep herself busy and to contribute something meaningful to her community. Money was scarce, and the $5 coupon she received after four hours of volunteering allowed her to treat herself to a meal in the hospital cafeteria. She worked a bit through a temporary labor service but knew it was not enough to sustain her.
She had gone to Human Services where she heard about Life-Work Planning Center (LWPC). She enrolled in a Personal Growth/Career Development series as well as an Over 50 workshop series. She learned in the workshops to believe in herself. Because LWPC approaches a client’s situation holistically and works collaboratively with other agencies, Sondra was referred to Job Service for possible services through the dislocated worker program, and to MVAC’s Senior Employment program.

“I said to myself – I have to do this, I want to do this, and what harm will it do?”

Sondra’s choice was to participate in the Senior Employment program. She began a two-year placement in MVAC’s Again Thrift and More store and immediately decided this was the place for her.

Here she was able to learn marketable retail skills, and also to apply some of her artistic talent, by arranging displays, for example. Because she is dependable and a hard worker, she continues to earn her supervisor’s respect and is given more and more responsibility in the store.
Sondra has lots of advice for women in transition like herself. First of all, she would encourage women to have hope. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, that you are too dumb, or you don’t have the skills,” she adds. She says some positive self-talk helped her. “I said to myself – I have to do this, I want to do this, and what harm will it do?” She advises women to get out and seek options because they are out there, and one of them is Life-Work Planning Center. There she gained increased self-esteem and found doors opening to new opportunities. “Now I can be ‘me’ and pick up what I missed in life and start over.”

- Marlene Lange, Peer Counselor

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