Erica Gawrys

Fun (made it (me))

Erica Gawrys lives in Vermont. She has two half siblings: Reagan and Bailey, and Brian her older step-brother. She had a mother but she passed away when Erica was 21. She has a real father that is not currently in her life, and a stepfather. Erica is 30; she has formerly worked at a pizza place, clothing store, restaurant, and taught aerobics. Something big that has recently happened is that she has come home for good from the U.S Navy. She has been there for six and a half years. Her ranking was Lieutenant. Erica was was born in New Jersey. She moved around a lot when she was very young, which was very hard for her as a kid. She says "I am thankful for this because it has made me stronger and the woman I am today."

Other places she has volunteered at is the Big Little Program, Special Olympics, and the American Heart Association. Now the place she volunteers at is her Catholic church, Holy Family. At Holy Family she is a CCD assistant teacher. CCD is an association that teaches kids about their religion and educates the holy minds of our community. CCD stands for Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.

Many others volunteer with her. There are three teachers per grade. On Sunday morning there are first graders through fifth graders, and on Sunday night there are sixth graders through tenth graders.

Erica specifically creates activities for the kids to do. She is one of the two assistants in the classroom, and the other assistant is a girl as well. She helps teach the 7th graders. Something that she has done before is make Jesus Jeopardy. "The kids get very loud, especially when we play this,"she adds.

She admits that it is a challenge for her to find ways to get the kids to enjoy it as much as she does. The kids don't always pay attention. Her highlight is that some of the kids do enjoy coming and learning, and they respect the class, as well as the teachers. A goal she has for the future is to volunteer with her sisters over the summer somewhere that they can make a difference and help out. Being a participant in our community is important to her. She isn't sure exactly what yet but she knows she will find something. Being a O.R Nurse has shown her appreciation for others and the less fortunate. Erica loves spending time with her patients and helping them get through it all together. Erica is my hero because she makes such a hard effort to make other people happy.She works hard and doesn't give up. When other people have to stop and give up, she just takes it as a bump in the road, and keeps on driving. She loves everything that she does and deserves everything good. Her whole life is something she has earned as a reward for the hard times she gets through. She helps other people go through hard times as well. She is a part of my family and I am so thankful for that. No one could do what she does every day, for once in their life. Erica Gawrys is a miracle that does the good deeds that no one else has the guts to do. Thank you for your service.