Emmy Angel

“I’m a recreational therapist, aid. I work at Resthaven in the care facility unit with people who have Alzheimer’s and Dementia. My aunt works there and I’ve visited there before for some school events like Vocalaires; I just really liked being there. The things the elderly say sometimes are just so funny, and it’s different every day so it’s not a routine which is something I like; it’s always different. I just love seeing my residents happy and seeing them laugh because it makes me laugh. Not only that, but not a lot of high schoolers get a job like that, so it makes it exciting. It’s also something I want to do in the future. I have decided to go to college at GVSU; Grand Valley is one of the few colleges in Michigan that offers Recreational Therapy, which is what I’m hoping to major in. They also have a very good art studio program, and it’s close to home so I’ll still be able to be with my parents. When I was in elementary school, I was diagnosed with anxiety, which is pretty young for a kid that age. I really struggled with Sensory Processing Disorder at the time too. Since I was young, I guess I just felt that I was the only one that was struggling. As I got older, I realized that I wasn’t alone. I think I can deal more with my anxiety and how I react to things; I’ve developed better coping mechanisms, and I feel it’s helped me to this day. I’ll still have times when things aren’t going the best, so I’ve brought the strategies I learned from when I was younger to my current lifestyle and have learned to use them when I need to; they’ve helped me throughout my whole life. Frequently, my mom and dad will tell me, ‘Well you tried your best and that’s the best you can do.’ Whether I’m going through hard times in school, or tennis, or just in general, my parents will always be there for me; they’ve guided me into becoming the girl I am today. Learning to cope and grow with anxiety has definitely helped me empathize with others on a different level, especially at Resthaven. I’m able to better understand what they could be feeling, or what’s going through their minds,” Sr. Haven March said.