Life Changing Experience
Being a teenager is difficult in the best of situations but a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, and manic depression, can almost make life devastating. Tabitha “Tenille” Ochoa was this teenager labeled with these disabilities. She spent a great deal of time during her teen years in and out of hospitals. During this time, she required medications to address the specific diagnosis symptoms. Relationships within the family were tested and her ability to look to the future was bleak.
As a young adult, she was told by counselors and medical staff that she should seek disability benefits. Tenille was placed on disability and told she was unemployable.
Over time, Tenille’s spirit began to break down. “I was just sitting at home and had absolutely no purpose in life. I felt like I had no worth.” A close friend told her that Goodwill hires people with disabilities and that maybe she should look into options that might be available. “My dad drove me to Goodwill in Alcoa and I was so nervous when I went inside the store. You have to remember, my head was telling me I was unemployable,” Tenille added. The manager of Goodwill interviewed Tenille, quickly recognizing her energetic personality and suggested starting out as a part-time employee.
Tenille was hired as a part-time employee and very quickly began to see how life can change when one puts themselves out there for challenges that can potentially improve life, knock out the little voices in the head telling you no, and return self-worth. The store manager recognized her potential and encouraged her to consider full-time employment but being on disability wouldn’t allow her to work in a full-time position.
“I had been on disability for 10 years and was up for my 10-year review. Two weeks before the court hearing I called the lawyer and asked him to drop the disability claim for renewal. I applied for the full-time position with Goodwill and it was life changing. Goodwill gave me an opportunity when no one else would. After six months of working at Goodwill, I was able to drop the medication required for my anxiety. I didn’t experience this anymore,” said Tenille.
Tenille knows her parents are really proud of her and her relationship with her family dramatically changed from her experience as an employee of Goodwill. “Goodwill gave me purpose in life. I accomplished so much relationally, emotionally, mentally and physically. I want to be able to pay it forward at some point in my life,” Tenille added.