Marian Montgomery works as a Direct Support Professional for Mattingly Center for Continuing Education. She will soon reach her 11^th year anniversary. Marian is a SPEAK peer mentor and a good one at that. She takes her responsibilities seriously and offers  mentees a meaningful experience for 6 months. Thereafter, she is a trusted friend.
    Marian has blossomed as a DSP and excels in the work that she does with the people she provides support. She is conscientious and willing to stretch herself to learn more personally and professionally each day. Recently, Marian participated in an audio conference training sponsored by ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources) with Beth Richardson, SPEAK, Training Coordinator and Sandra Mlinarcik, Vice President for Supports of Seven Counties Services, sharing with over 35 call-in the work of SPEAK.
    Marian is committed to the work she does and is honored to work with the people served at the Mattingly Center.
    For fun, we thought we would change the format of DSPs In The Spotlight with hopes of learning more about SPEAK’S DSP’s. So, hang on to your hats and let’s go!
Where did you attend high school? I attended Holy Rosary Academy for two years. In my junior year I decided to attend Mercy Academy where I graduated in 1968.
How old were you when you got married? I was 18 years old when I married. We divorced after five years. I met my husband Charlie on a blind date. I’m proud to say he and I will celebrate our 33^rd anniversary in November.
How many children did you have? I have two-step sons, Bill and Rick. Charlie and I have two children, Sarah and Jason. Bill works for Humana and Rick is retired from the Navy. Sarah has two-step daughters in their teens, a daughter 5 years and a son 3 years and a wonderful husband, Doug of six years. Jason is a single dad raising his 10-year-old daughter. So there you a have my immediate family tree.
What is your interests, hobbies or activities that you participate in when you are not working? I enjoy working in the yard; it’s therapy for me. I like to take photographs and hope to do more of this when I retire and also dabble in art to my hearts content. I enjoy spending time with my grand children and I can really get hooked on good movies. I exercise at least three times a week and walk in my neighborhood when I have time.
Why did you become a DSP? When I was in high school my dream was to become a social worker. Being a DSP at the MC is as close to that dream as I could possibly be. When I began working at the Center I didn’t have a clue as to what a difference it would make in my life. These guys have taught me everything.
What do you like about it? Kelly, Gail, Heather, Robert, Kevin, Alex. And then there’s Carl, Damon, John, Lisa, Joel, Time. There’s Julie M, Julie J, Barbie, Jeremy, Mike and about fifty other names.
What is your philosophy toward the work you do? My philosophy is to make a difference in as many individual lives including my own as I possibly can. One little act of kindness, a hug or a smile can make all the difference in having a good day or having a not so good day.  You have to enjoy what you choose to do in life. Why not choose to have that good day. Look, Learn and Listen sums it all up.
What motivates you to do your best on the job? Motivation comes from watching someone take pride in painting a picture, completing a piece of needlework or helping to make a coke. Working with someone to exercise their hand to enable them to open their fingers on their own and then seeing them sitting on a couch and open that hand with no prompting just can’t be beat. Getting that hug from one of your participants when they know you need one. Working together is all the motivation I need to do my best while on the job.
What is your greatest strength? Wow, this is a difficult one to answer. I feel that my greatest strength is my reliability. If I’m asked to do something or be somewhere I will do my best to do what is asked of me. I’m at work everyday and only take time off when I schedule it in advance.  I’ve been known to show up at work on a snowy day when the program had been closed because I took the bus to work before the information had been released that we would be closed just so I would arrive to clock in on time.
What is your life message? I would say my life message is to treat every individual as I expect to be treated, with respect and kindness.
Let’s take money out of the equation and say that you don’t need for anything. What would you focus on doing if you could do whatever you wanted in this world, as it exists now? At this point in my life I would love to be retired. If I could I would volunteer at the MC a few times a week just because I would want to. I’d get up early and drink my coffee in my back yard sitting on my swing. Sharing more time with my grandchildren would create even more memories.  When Charlie and I get old (ha, ha) I’d really enjoy having a big house on the beach so all the kids would have a place to stay when they wanted to visit. For Charlie and me to be able to spend the rest of our lives happy and not have a worry in the world would be all I could ever wish for. What a dream!
If you could ask one question of people you meet, what would you ask them? I would ask what makes them happy.
What do you want to contribute to others? I would like to give others good memories of the times we’ve shared together.
What do you want from others? I would like for people to get to know me as I really am.
How have you handled challenges in your life? I have and always will give deep thought to every challenge I encounter in my life.  Through prayer and faith in God I hope to make the best decisions possible no matter to what degree the challenge may be.
What do you want from life? I want just what I have with a little more free time to do what I want to do and not what I have to do.  I’d like to live a healthy and rewarding life with my family close at hand. And last but not least a big red Mustang convertible.
   
Thanks Marian for taking the time to answer these questions. We really know more about you, which is a privilege!