Araya is a Transition Student at Pendleton High School who recently started volunteering at her dream job. She volunteers once a week at the Pendleton Public Library, something she has been training to do for a long time.

Araya uses a self-driven, powered wheelchair and has the functional use of one hand. Several years ago, she started volunteering as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Pendleton High School Library. Jami Niord, Library/Media Specialist at PHS, trained Araya to complete various jobs in the library. Araya often said, “I want to be a librarian when I grow up.”

When she applied for the public library volunteer position, Araya’s application included a “resume” of skills she had learned in the PHS library, including locating bar codes and checking books in and out, shelving, cleaning and sanitizing various areas, and straightening up chairs and tables. In her new job, Araya independently checks books and DVDs into the public library and places them on a rack to be shelved later.

Coree Terjeson, PHS Special Education Teacher, said the years of experience in the school library guided by the PHS media specialist and Paraprofessionals helped Araya flawlessly step into her new role. “Araya’s disabilities do not conquer her; instead, they fuel her determination. Everyone knows and loves Araya for who she is. She is turning her passion for books into invaluable job skills, and her journey is a testament to the power of opportunity,” Terjeson said.

PHS Paraprofessional Peggy Ruiz has worked closely with Araya for several years and said that Araya is very proud of herself for having an “adult” job since she is a PHS graduate. Ruiz said that often, when learning something new, Araya needs repetition to remember; when she says, “I can’t do it,” Ruiz replies with, “You can figure it out because you are what”? Then Araya replies with, “I am smart, and I am capable.” Ruiz said, “She has definitely learned she is both of those things.”