Tom’s Interview Summary

Tom Carter, who works at ARC Thrift Stores, shared his journey of overcoming challenges with autism, PTSD, and scoliosis. Initially part-time, he now works full-time, having progressed from data entry to various roles, including building keyboards and handling community service hours. Tom credits a personal development course focused on emotional intelligence for significantly improving his life, helping him manage anxiety and depression. He emphasized the importance of positive thinking and the supportive environment at ARC. Tom aims to advance within ARC, highlighting the course's transformative impact on his self-awareness and professional growth.

Outline

Tom's Background and Introduction

  • Speaker 1 introduces the purpose of the interview, sharing their own story of overcoming blindness and depression to inspire others.

  • Speaker 1 asks Tom to share his full name and where he works.

  • Tom introduces himself as Tom Stevens, working at ARC Thrift Stores for about five years, with the last two years being full-time.

  • Tom mentions his role at the corporate office and his enjoyment of playing video games, watching TV shows, and spending time with his dog, Diego.

Tom's Disability and Early Life

  • Tom discusses his identification within the disability community, mentioning his mother's stroke at age five and his congenital scoliosis.

  • He identifies his main disabilities as autism and post-traumatic stress, with glasses significantly improving his vision.

  • Tom shares his experiences growing up with a disability, including being teased, having difficult friendships, and being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.

  • He reflects on how these experiences shaped him and expresses gratitude for who he has become.

Tom's Early Work and Transition to ARC

  • Tom talks about his early work at the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) from age 14 to 18.

  • He describes the transition from CCDC to ARC, initially as a part-time data entry clerk, and eventually working full-time.

  • Tom shares the challenges of leaving CCDC, a familiar job, and the confidence boost from working full-time at ARC.

  • He highlights the supportive environment at ARC, which helped him learn and grow professionally.

Personal Development Course and Emotional Intelligence

  • Tom explains how a close family member recommended him for a personal development course focused on emotional intelligence.

  • He discusses the impact of the course on his life, helping him gain confidence and manage anxiety and depression.

  • Tom mentions the support from ARC, including the flexibility to go home if feeling anxious, which was crucial during his transition to full-time work.

  • He reflects on the importance of the course in teaching him to differentiate between various emotions and not to leave work early unnecessarily.

Impact of the Course on Tom's Life

  • Tom shares how the course helped him understand and manage his negative thoughts and emotions.

  • He describes the positive changes in his interactions with co-workers and the increased trust and responsibility he received.

  • Tom emphasizes the importance of the course in improving his problem-solving skills and overall well-being.

  • He expresses gratitude for the course, stating it had a more significant impact than years of therapy.

Tom's Role at ARC and Ambassador Program

  • Tom details his various roles at ARC, including data entry, community service hours tracking, building keyboards, and filing.

  • He highlights the rewarding nature of his work and the sense of productivity it brings.

  • Tom discusses his involvement in the ARC University ambassador program, where he was valedictorian and received recognition for his achievements.

  • He reflects on the support and encouragement from his colleagues, which contributed to his success.

Gratitude and Positive Mindset

  • Tom talks about his participation in the monthly uplift group, which helps him stay positive and practice gratitude.

  • He explains the gratitude chain, a text chain where group members share what they are grateful for, which helps reinforce a positive mindset.

  • Tom emphasizes the importance of staying grateful and making the most of life, despite its challenges.

  • He shares how the course and the group have helped him maintain a positive outlook and continue growing personally and professionally.

Future Aspirations and Final Thoughts

  • Tom expresses his desire to continue working at ARC, aiming for more responsibility and possibly management roles in the future.

  • He reflects on the significant positive changes in his life since taking the personal development course.

  • Tom encourages others to consider the course, emphasizing its potential to help manage negative thoughts and improve overall well-being.

  • He concludes by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share his story and the support he has received.