When one door closed for Linda Skillen, another completely unexpected one opened.
After a long career in corporate advertising, Linda lost her job during the COVID pandemic and found herself with an opportunity to do the kind of work where she could have a greater impact. She took a chance at Little City’s Grayslake Center, working as a DSP in a field she had no experience or knowledge in. When she first started, she spent half her day taking DSP classes and the other half working alongside another DSP to learn the basics of the job. Today, after one year at Grayslake, Linda has become a superstar on her team and someone who is loved by all the participants she works with.
“These are my last years of working and I wanted to make sure I could make an impact on someone’s life and not just sit there and plug stuff into a computer, which is what I did for most of my career. This job is just so rewarding. I bring home their laughs and smiles and never come home thinking ‘man, I have to go do that again tomorrow.’ I look forward to coming to work every day because I know every day is different. I’m so happy to be here, I love my job, and I love the people I get to work with. It is a great group.”
Linda, who works with higher need adults like Lorenz (pictured), said she enjoys getting to know each individual’s personality and preferences. She said community outings are always a highlight, watching participants make progress in and out of the classroom.
While Linda said she feels lucky to have found Little City, Little City is lucky to have found Linda! Thank you for all you do!