Leading by Example: How Elena Found Her Place at Breeze Park

Summer always seems a little brighter when Elena Stolle is walking the halls of Breeze Park Senior Living. A participant in Easterseals Midwest's Summer Teen Employment Program (STEP) since 2024, Elena quickly became a familiar and cherished face among residents and staff alike.

Before this year's program began, Breeze Park employees and residents were already inquiring about Elena's return. They held onto her badge, which is a simple but powerful reminder of the mark she left. Upon learning that she would be back for another summer, excitement began to gather.

This year, Elena brought everything to an entirely new level. She served residents with patience, care, and respect, assisting them with technology and daily activities, as well as anything else she was capable of. One of the key things that residents often shared was that Elena was the highlight of their day, and it's not hard to understand why.

Having worked at Breeze the previous summer, Elena naturally stepped into a leadership position, helping train new STEP students and ensuring everyone felt comfortable and confident. Her consistency, teamwork, and dedication caught the attention of the Breeze Park management team, who praised her strong work ethic and constant reliability.

In fact, they were so impressed that Elena was offered a role within the company, her first official job offer.

Reflecting on the experience, Elena shared how meaningful everything has been to her.

"I enjoyed my job because it gave me a chance to make money while learning what it's like to have a job," she said.

The experience also helped her discover certain aspects of herself. "I learned a lot about myself. My strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes," she explained.

Elena recognizes the importance of the opportunity.

"Many teenagers with special needs don't have this opportunity, so I felt lucky to have been accepted into the program," she said. "It was definitely a milestone for me and my family to celebrate."

Throughout this past summer, Elena earned acclaim for her strong memory, attention to detail, and rule-following nature, and her co-workers couldn't agree more. They described her as friendly, dependable, and easy to work with. With help from her job coach, she also achieved several personal milestones, such as writing her first real resume, completing her first job application, and ultimately securing her first official position.

This journey at Breeze Park reflects the true spirit of National Disability Employment Awareness Month: when people are given the chance to succeed, they often inspire everyone around them to do the same.