I love my job. I am the Managing Attorney of the Health, Education, Advocacy and Law Project at Community Legal Aid in Akron OH. I am an Equal Justice Works Fellow doing health policy analysis and managing a medical-legal partnership in Summit County. I work with community groups and statewide advocacy groups to advance health equity and reduce health disparities. I am becoming a leader in health policy issues in my community. I would not have gotten to the place, at my dream job, without the incredible guidance and support of Lawyers Life Coach Ellen Ostrow.

In September of 2007, I started working with Ellen. I “graduated” in December 2010, when I was awarded an Equal Justice Works Fellowship, thereby securing my current full-time position, which began in September 2011. Over the course of four years, I was hired to work on several small projects as a project coordinator or as a health policy consultant; I earned a Masters in Public Health from a well-regarded institution as a distance learning student; I volunteered and worked part time at Legal Aid building my dream job (and obtaining funding for it); and I successfully took the Ohio Bar Exam (my fourth bar exam, but the first I had taken in twenty years). Along the way, I also resisted the urge to accept opportunities that did not further my objectives.

Through all these twists and turns, Ellen helped me stay focused on my goals. I worked both individually with Ellen, as well as with the Opting Back In Group. The support provided by Ellen and the Group made all the difference. Being accountable for taking steps in between phone calls provided the motivation to move forward. In the Group, we shared our successes and our stressors, and helped each other consider options to overcome barriers. Ellen was generous with her time and contacts, modeling the strengths of a good network by sharing hers with us.

I will be forever grateful to Ellen for many things she said and did in the time we worked together. Two, however, stand out in my mind. First, when I traveled to graduate school for a two-week intensive educational experience, I was nervous about being back in the classroom, as well as about being away from my family. Ellen sent me beautiful flowers with a thoughtful note of encouragement. It meant a lot to me, and it helped! Second, when I was offered opportunities that did not fit in my goal of working in health policy on issues of equity, she reminded me to pause and consider whether an opportunity was enticing because it felt secure, rather than because it would help me fulfill my passion. I so appreciated her confidence that the right opportunities would present themselves, if I kept myself open to them.
When someone asks me about whether it is worth the time and effort to work with Ellen, or any Life Coach, I remind her that it is an essential investment in herself. When she is ready to make the investment, it is invaluable, and from it she will reap rewards.