Transportation Coordinator

I came to OASIS via my son.  Martin started attending Confirmation Class at St. John/St. Paul Lutheran Church under the tutelage of Lisa Arledge.  This soon grew to a large gathering of youth from Akron and I found Lisa asking me to stay and attend.  Originally I declined; it was rather nice to “drop and run” one day a week and have time to myself.  Later, I decided to stay on youth night and see why my son and his friends always wanted to come.  Wow!  I was hooked.  I started volunteering one night a week to help the youth and found it very rewarding; but somehow I felt I was not giving enough.

During this time I worked for a large health system in Akron, first in Infectious Disease and then Psychiatry.  During my time in the psychiatry department, I learned so much about how to deal with a person who suffers from depression or is suicidal.  My title was Administrative Coordinator, but let me say there is nothing to coordinate when you answer the phone and the person on the other line is holding a gun to their head or just swallowed a bunch of pills; you go into “save mode”.  The experience at the psychiatry office helped prepare me in so many ways to help minister to the youth of OASIS.

I believe that life is a different experience for each person.  Each person’s life experience can help another person going through some of the same things.  In that way I believe I can help the youth who I encounter.  I have experienced a lot of the same things that they are currently going through and, hopefully, I can offer sound advice.  I do not hold a college degree; however, I do believe that higher education is a big part of their finding success.  Mentoring the youth is a great experience for me.  They let me see their vulnerabilities and kindness where outsiders or even family only see bitterness and hardness.  Since working with OASIS, I am truly blessed by the Lord to be a part of their lives and I thank God every day for this opportunity to serve Him.