In June 0f 1995 Jill Erin Egle myself graduated with a diploma from James Madison High School. Thoughts of college weren’t even in my mind because I had a learning disability. I was already thinking where would I work and what kind of job would I have?

I really wanted to be an actress or a gymnast but those jobs are hard to come by so I began a very long journey of little pay and lots of different jobs. I have done everything from entering data for a US Senator from Lousiana Mary Landrieu from being a courtesy clerk at Safeway, a stocker at Michaels, and I even did a brief position here at SOC Enterprises. It has not been and easy journey jobs were hard to keep and often times I didn’t like what I was doing. Did I say I didn’t get paid very much money? Let me put it this way, I never got paid as much as my brothers who are younger than me. I even got let go from Safeway because i was being too courteous.

I am 31 years old even though I like to feel that im 25 years old. I have learned that it is important to like my job and have the right supports in place to make it work. There are 3 elements that make a job successful for anyone regardless of an ability.

1)    Good supervisor
2)    Good colleagues
3)    Good support job coach husband wife family member
4)    Oh there is one other element that important good pay and raises

The two jobs that I have been most successful in are both jobs that I started as a volunteer the YWCA and The Arc of Northern Virginia. They had all the elements I listed above and I would like to point out my wonderful extravaganza support person Michelle Taylor who is providing me support as I present speech.

I have left the YWCA after 2  years of working there,  started there on  July 26th 2005. It was hard to leave my friends and family of the YWCA I will keep it in my heart always. Know I am a Intern Co Director of the Arc of Northern VA. I have been at the Arc one year as of September 5th 2006. I was promoted Sept 3rd 2007 as a Co Executive Director for one year. I get regular salary, benefits and comp time. I share an office with Nancy Mercer and we go to all meetings together my first week we went back and forth to Richmond on three different days. My focus this year is on three different goals to facilitate the people first meeting the second Thursday of every month increase the Arc Of Northern VA membership and get rid of the R word.

I can’t believe three months have gone by so quickly—everyday I am learning something new.

First I had to learn the importance of “Getting Organized”. I set up my office space, which I keep tidy and have developed a filing system. I am still getting used to the filing system. I update my voice mail with my schedule everyday and check my e-mail regularly—even from remote locations. When you have a busy schedule organization is important.

I have learned to be positive. Advocacy can be tough…rough…not everyone sees things the same way—whether you are sitting at an IEP table, working in Richmond, or running a People First Meeting. It is important as an advocate to remember the BIG picture, listen to all sides and keep building one voice that supports the idea of creating “A Life Like Yours’ for everyone.

I remind everyone I meet to keep reaching for the Executive Ladder in the sky. You may not get the top rung, but keep reaching in everything you do. Look what happened when we all reached for the top rung of the Executive Ladder…we got the Northern Virginia Differential and more waiver slots.

Lastly I have learned as a leader that I must continually work for the “We versus the ME.” What that means that I have to support my colleagues and members of The Arc in finding their personal strengths to be the best that they can be…to reach their highest rung on the Executive Ladder.

Does this sound like a lot of work???  It takes a lot of energy to be an Executive Director Intern…so I have started to a  blog on The Arc of Northern Virginia website to share my experiences and get any wonderful insights from each of you as the year goes on! Thanks for your support—I am having a great time, visit us anytime!