New Beginnings
In the early 1990’s Bridget Sinclair had just graduated from Seneca College with the urge to help those in need. Unfortunately she had to put her life on hold, since her mother had taken ill. Bridget being the caring and compassionate person decided to leave her job at the local teen crisis centre to look after her mom full time. As the months went on her mother got worse and worse till her unfortunate death in July of ’92. Bridget was left heart broken and unsure what to do with her life. When asked what got her to go into the field of gerontology she replied “After helping my mother everyday I got to reconnect with her like when I was a child. Then my friend told me about a retirement home that her sister was working at and how they needed more volunteers. So I went and began to volunteer, and the rest is history.” After about 6 months of volunteering and working odd jobs here and there, St. Francis retirement home finally hired Bridget as a fulltime employee.
Bridget is now in her tenth year working at St. Francis retirement home and she couldn’t be happier. “I’m glad I decided to volunteer here, it was the best decision I have ever made. I’m now the manager of leisure and activities here.” Just with a simple volunteer job like working at a retirement home can change the rest of your life, and make you complete.
With her life finally slowing down and coming to a halt she had decided to go back to school for her diploma in the field of gerontology, and since she was already a graduate of Seneca College she had decided to go back there. “Now that I have a management job at the retirement home I have a bit more free time on my hands. So I figured why not go back to school and get my diploma.” Like a lot of today’s society Bridget is going back to college and university for that extra diploma.
When asked if she had any advice for younger generations who are thinking about going into the field of gerontology Bridget told us that. “As long as you have the patience to deal with those who have dementia” Dementia being the deterioration of intellectual faculties, for example memory loss. “You also have to have a really warm heart and be able to handle unexpected situations like the death of one of your clients. It’s one of the hardest things to go through in this business but you have to be strong”
Before we ended this interview we asked Bridget if she had any last words. “All I have to say is no matter what happens in your life take it as it comes because you never know it may change your life forever” We’d like to thank Bridget for helping us out with allow us to interview her.
Students Thoughts
Ashley P. is a second year Gerontology student about to start her final semester of the SSW Gerontology program at Sheridan. We caught up with her to inquire about the Sheridan program, her initial expectations and experiences, as well as any advice that she could give people considering entering into the program. . Ashley chose the Sheridan program because it was one of the only ones to offer field experience as part of the curriculum. She said that when she entered the program she had much experience with elder care and was certain she knew what to expect, but was very surprised at how much she had to learn. “The first year of the program taught me many valuable lessons” she said, “I made a lot of realizations about the field and life in general”. She went on to explain that the subject matter is very easily applicable to real life. Ashley said that she really felt the course was developing in her the tools she needed to become an effective social worker and that she was very pleased with the curriculum. “The lessons are very well organized and very effective at teaching the students what they need to grow as they approach their SSW career” she said. “I am really glad I chose Sheridan.”
As for the advice she offered for people in the first year of the program or those considering entry, she warns to take the program seriously. “Social Work is a great career but it is not to be taken for granted. You are responsible for helping people work through their lives, and those people deserve the very best help available to them. This responsibility should be taken seriously”. She then added “Social justice can be very rewarding, but never underestimate the commitment required to become an effective social worker, it is hard work”. As we wrapped up the interview she was quick to add that she believed above all things in social justice, and that we as social workers should never lose hope. Hope dies last.
We would like to thank Ashley for her honest and thoughtful input.
