"I've lived in Elk County most of my life. When my husband was in the Army, we did move around a bit, but this is where my family is, and it was a great place to raise kids. I raised two, and now I've got four grandkids that I get to spoil. Three of them are in the Seattle area, so I travel out there about three times a year. I really love to travel. Before I took this job, I actually did a solo cross-country trek on my motorcycle. There's nothing better to de-stress than hopping on my bike for what I call "wind-therapy." Over the years, I've been to all 50 states on a bike, either as a rider or passenger. A few years ago, I retired after 17 years with Elk County CYS, and I really can't say I've been bored. On top of traveling, I've been working on a ton of home projects, and of course, I came back to take on this paralegal role. It's part-time, which is perfect for me. I like that it keeps me learning new things, and it really suits where I’m at. I don’t need to be hands-on in the homes anymore; this job lets me work behind the scenes and do the “computer things” I like to help the caseworkers do their jobs. And it keeps me working to help the kids who need it. Kids will always have my heart. I was a foster parent to teens, too, for a few years, and I'll always have a soft spot for them. Most keep in touch, which is nice. One young man is now married with a little girl and working as a CO. He’s doing amazing. I loved getting to give them new experiences, like traveling on a plane or seeing the ocean. Now, I do respite. Doing respite means I get to be someone’s grandma for a weekend—and you can never have enough grandkids."
Carrie, Paralegal
