By Hannah Mangena Hauksdottir, CFS Specialist
One of the greatest privileges of working at Compass is watching someone begin to believe that more is possible for their life. Seeing the individuals I support grow in confidence, independence, and connection has been one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
Making Room for Growth
When I first started working with one client, one of her biggest goals was to build friendships and create more of a social life. Over time, she has made friends and formed meaningful connections. Together, we have worked on communication, boundaries, and how to have difficult conversations with love and respect.
We have also explored ideas from Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory to help her recognize what she can and cannot control in relationships. By applying those ideas to real situations, she is growing more confident in expressing her needs and navigating challenges independently.
That growth has reached into other parts of her life, too. We recently decluttered her room and donated things she no longer wanted. What began as an organization project became a chance for her to reflect on who she is becoming. She realized she wanted her space to reflect the person she is today.
Finding New Direction
Another client spent nearly two years after high school mostly sitting on the couch watching YouTube. He had little direction and struggled with confidence.
In less than a year, his life looks very different. He has a job and is pursuing a second one. He is working toward his driver’s license, developing friendships, and growing in his social skills. He has also reconciled with his father and is intentionally rebuilding that relationship while strengthening other family connections.
What stands out most is that he is beginning to dream bigger about his future.
What Success Can Look Like
These are just a few of the stories I have had the privilege of witnessing at Compass. They are my “why” for this work. Our role is to walk alongside people as they build the confidence, skills, relationships, and courage to create lives that are increasingly their own.
Sometimes success looks like a job or a driver’s license. Sometimes it looks like making a friend, repairing a relationship, or having a difficult conversation with respect.
Each step can lead to something bigger: believing that more is possible.