Aeilot acquired a brain injury at birth due to lack of oxygen to his brain. Aeilot was referred to our SCL program in September, 2005 to get help in finding a part-time paid or volunteer position. Aeliot was on A.I.S.H. and just wanted to work approximately to supplement his income. He also wanted to volunteer his time to keep active and to keep his mind busy.

Our program helped Aeliot to fix his resume and to search the internet for appropriate positions. Aeliot was successful in acquiring a volunteer position as a receptionist and truly enjoyed this work. He also had many interviews for paid employment throughout the year he was in our program. He interviewed very well and had the experience and education to achieve his goal. Aeliot came very close to getting a paid position but after repeated efforts was unsuccessful in landing a paid position.

Aeliot’s success in our program was not in finding a paid position but in his unfailing positive attitude and enthusiasm that he brought to our weekly meetings. He always had a smile on his face and found humor in daily life. Aeliot joked around with staff and was relentless in staying positive regardless of the lack of success in finding paid employment. He thoroughly enjoyed the social interactions and relationship he had developed with me and looked forward to our weekly meetings.

I believe that Aeliot was a success in our program because he was motivated to try every week to achieve his goal. This positive attitude and internal motivation is what is necessary in life to achieve our objectives. When employers rejected him he kept pushing forward and would not allow anyone to keep him from his focus. Aeliot is a success story and will continue to do well in life. Aeliot will achieve his goal someday because he has never given up and probably never will. If Aeliot were here today I would encourage him to keep it up and to keep smiling because that is all anyone can ever ask of anyone but to try their best in life and to never give up.