Students Enjoy Opportunity to Grow

“My first two weeks at Sarah Neuman have been so rewarding. I honestly never thought I would feel like a better person when I started working,” says Sunu Mathew, a participant in Sarah Neuman’s Summer Youth Program.

Many of the students in the program spend Monday through Thursday mornings with the residents – organizing games, discussing current events, escorting elders outside when the weather is nice, and generally serving as friends to the elders. The youth may also work in our offices and deliver medications.

In the afternoons, the students are in class. They learn valuable life skills like public speaking and how to write a college essay. A highlight this year was a college tour.

Twelve students took part in this year’s program, which ran from July 7 – August 14, 2008.

Sarah Neuman continued its Summer Youth Program this year thanks in part to a generous donation from the Friends of Sarah Neuman Auxiliary Group and funds raised in the Walk for What Matters.

For more information or if you are interested in contributing to this valuable program, please contact Amy Lionheart, Director of Volunteers at (914) 864-5140 or by email at alionheart@jhha.org.

Read about the students’ experiences, in their own words:

Alisa Henry: My First Work Experience at Sarah Neuman Center
Mark Byrne: Why Working in the Pharmacy Is a Rewarding Experience
Sunu Mathew: My Work Experience at Sarah Neuman Center

My First Work Experience at Sarah Neuman Center
by Alisa Henry

I have seen myself transform from a shy and quiet person to a humorous and fun person. When I first started this job, I would dread someone asking me to talk to a resident because I didn’t know what to say or do. Now I can go up to a resident with ease and not have to worry because once I give them a smile, they do all the talking. I just listen and respond to what they say.

The effect my job has had on the residents is a positive one. They feel at ease when I approach them. This makes my job fun. When I am involved with a resident it makes the time fly. When I just do paperwork or something, it seems as if the time goes on forever.

This effect makes me feel good because the fact that I know I am doing a good job means a lot to me. Even though I get it from my supervisor, it is always nice to hear it from a resident.

The effect this job has had on my life is a positive one as well. This experience has taught me that you just cannot hide forever, and just blend in. Sometimes you have to be taken out of your comfort zone in order to realize your potential and greatness.

Being in this type of environment has made me think about the possibility of having a career in the healthcare field. It has widened my eyes to see the work it takes to keep a nursing home running, and has influenced me on some of the jobs I could possibly be interested in.

Why Working in the Pharmacy Is a Rewarding Experience
by Mark Byrne

After two weeks at Sarah Neuman, I have seen a great transformation in my work ethic. Working in a busy pharmacy, like the one in this facility, has taught me the value of hard work. If the pharmacy staff all of a sudden started slacking off, the whole facility would be in a state of disarray. The same is true for any unit. I’ve learned that a business really is the sum of its parts. My job affects the residents more indirectly than the jobs of my peers. Whereas they interact with and befriend the residents, I work more behind the scenes.

My responsibilities include picking up orders and delivering medication. Some jobs require keeping things organized and making sure all the medicine is fresh and effective. This insures that nurses can administer proper treatments and medications. It is good to know that I am helping people live longer, healthier lives. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my work at Sarah Neuman, my experience has told me that I do not wish to go into the medical field as a career choice. The reason for that is it doesn’t appeal enough to my creative side, which is what brings me the most joy. I know that a career in the music business is right for me, even if it is not as a performer, but rather a record producer or engineer. Clearly, my experience at Sarah Neuman has been a valuable part of my career choice and the development of the qualities I need to enter the work force in my adult life.