As I writer I wish I could reach the public the way Robert Fulghum did with his book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten. As a human being, I hope some day I can display the humanitarian skills I saw a manager of a peer center display. This person played many roles as a social worker and advocate for people. One of her roles as a manager at a peer center was to teach the skills to becoming a leader. Through this manager’s talents and caring heart, many people not only became leaders, but became humanitarians in their communities.
While I was a part of the peer center leadership team, I learned people can be very interesting creatures. We all can have good days and bad days. Sometimes it’s a series of good and bad moments.What I learned about myself during this time is stress can bring out an ugly side. However, through a social worker’s management skills, I started to learn the skills to be a humanitarian. This woman has become a life mentor to me. I have the honor and privilege of continuing to serve people with her and a few other very cool and respectable people. It’s something I thank God for on a daily basis.
One of the first things I noticed about this manager was her ability to be humble. Her role at this center was to be a mentor. Her ability to see an individual’s talent and strength at this center was a God given talent.
It is her williness to go the extra mile to get a person to use their talents that has won my respect.
During her tenure as a peer center manager, she made herself available to the staff of the peer center twenty-four hours. Using her listening skills and supporting the center’s executive staff’s decisions, she gained a great respect and trust. As she let this team make more decisions, they became more confident.
As the leaders grew in confidence, they became role models to their staff and peers. The executive officers of this peer center won many awards due to their personal talents. This team was able to shine through the support and encouragement of this manager. As this executive team grew, they formed their own subcommittees and learned to become more of a self sufficient center.
This woman’s desire to be an advocate for this peer center made an honorable path for many people. Although this woman has gone a different direction in her life, the peer center remains a passion for her. She remains a behind the scene consultant for the executive team of this peer center. She remains a part of the center’s co-founders’ lives.
The experiences this woman displays as a great humanitarian happens on a daily basis. Her understanding of personalities and cultures gives her an opportunity to be a diplomat. Although this woman and I have different career paths, I believe our compassion for people will always be common ground for us. During my management opportunities, one of my goals is to someday display the humanitarian ways this woman does.