When Patrick first began working on job skills with our Baudette division six years ago, he had just moved to the Lake of the Woods area. Troubled by a lengthy gap in his work experience, he sought out the assistance and support he needed to get back into work-ready form.
An issue that had been preventing Patrick from forming sustainable work habits included a struggle with short-term memory loss. Simple, everyday things like setting an alarm needed to be relearned daily.
Since working with ODC, he has mastered the skills necessary to prepare his life around employment. Sleep habits, setting alarms, punctuality, interpersonal skills—he has come a long way since that first day on the job.
Patrick currently works at the DNR’s Forestry and Fish & Wildlife divisions, Lake of the Woods County engineers’ garage, and Kaleidoscope Thrift Store. He has worked hard to become reliable and takes pride in knowing his tasks and worksites well. Employment has provided him with the community interaction he desired, and he has enjoyed getting to know everyone at the job sites.
Noting that ODC has filled a void in his life, Patrick says his co-workers, job coaches and community employers feel like family to him. He aspires to advance in the workforce and is thankful to be able to do the work he does.
Steady employment has enabled Patrick to afford and provide for his own apartment, which he decorates in a Victorian-era style. He also owns a reliable vehicle, of which he takes pride in earning. “Everything I have right now is due to hard work and lots of sweat,” says Patrick. “I am proud to have a nice place for people to stay when they come to visit.”
Some of his varied interests include fishing, hunting, inventing, restoring classic cars, building computers, antiquing and video games.
We are grateful to DNR Forestry and Fish & Wildlife divisions, county engineers, and the job coaches who have all worked with Patrick over the years for their support and commitment. Patrick would not be where he is today without having been given a chance to prove himself.
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