By Alma Torrez-Lopez, SLS Supervisor
Over the last year, I had the pleasure of getting to know Curtis. He has been with Compass since 2014. Curtis has gone through hardships and many obstacles to be where he is now. His determination and accomplishments are admirable. Curtis lives alone in his one-bedroom apartment in Concord. He enjoys his freedom and independence.
Catch the Positivity!
His positivity is infectious, and I can honestly say that he is one of the most positive people I have ever had the pleasure to be around. Curtis loves to socialize. He enjoys meeting new people and sharing his stories. You’ll never be bored when you’re around Curtis. When Curtis first came onto my caseload, we spoke about the various goals that he would like to accomplish. I’m happy to share that Curtis has been able to achieve many of his goals since I started working with him.
Gym Goals
One of the goals Curtis wanted to accomplish was to join the gym again. Curtis’s overnight staff helped Curtis accomplish his goal of wanting to work out again by bringing him to her gym. Curtis then realized this is something he wants to do even without Yolisa. He calculated his finances and made a budget to help him afford his own membership. Since February he has been consistently going to the gym weekly. He has put his physical health first and made it a top priority. With Curtis’s hard work, he is now able to walk longer distances and overall has a much better sense of health and positivity.
Another Important Goal
Another goal he wanted to accomplish was being consistent with his physical therapy appointments. He is only allowed a certain number of sessions a year, but Curtis didn’t accept that. Curtis advocates for himself and asked for more. He spoke to his doctor about the importance and why he would benefit from having consistent appointments. Curtis’s doctor supported his request and granted him more physical therapy sessions.
A Whole New Level of Health
Curtis’s accomplishment in achieving these goals has helped him reach a new level in his physical and mental health. He is a lot happier and willing to accomplish more of his goals now. I am proud to see all the work that Curtis has put in and I cannot wait to see what new goals he accomplishes. Curtis has even helped inspire me to prioritize my mental and physical health as well. It’s amazing to see what putting yourself first can do for a person. Keep going Curtis and keep being awesome!