When working one-on-one with clients, Anna likes to focus on self-worth and the importance of fostering a positive mindset in the midst of hardship. She has noticed that clients often express embarrassment about their past or current situations and feel they do not deserve more chances. To counter this, she helps them claim ownership of their challenges and draw out the lessons they’ve learned so they may tell their stories in an honest and impactful way. With her guidance, clients work on painting pictures of their pasts, presents, and futures for potential employers, as well as themselves. Countless times, she has witnessed the moment when self-doubt transforms into self-belief and hope for a brighter future – easily her favorite part of volunteering.
Along with walking away with a new resume and feeling prepared for their job interviews, Anna hopes clients will leave feeling more confident in themselves. Regardless of where they were prior to coming to Chrysalis, or even where they may find themselves now, it is important to her that clients know they are deserving of a fair chance at employment.
“Every person is shaped by what happened in the past, but their past does not need to define them. Their future is theirs to create.”
Anna spends her time at Chrysalis crafting resumes and conducting practice job interviews with clients. The Azusa Pacific University student found Chrysalis last June while searching for an organization to work with as a part of the requirements for her developmental psychology masters program. With a unique background in business and psychology, and an interest in working with individuals experiencing homelessness and financial barriers, she felt that she could identify with Chrysalis’ mission.
“Chrysalis had exactly what I was looking for, and helping people get ready and find jobs was something I had experience with through my career in business,” she says.
From the moment she first walked into Chrysalis, Anna knew she was home. Even after completing her practicum, Anna decided to continue spending time at the center volunteering.
“I had fallen in love with the organization.”
When Anna first began volunteering, she knew she wanted to help others. After a while though, she realized she was not only having an impact on the clients, but they were having an impact on her as well.
“For me, volunteering at Chrysalis is about deep personal connections where one heart touches another.”