Connections - November 2008 - (Page 11) could I ever do this? But I couldn’t say no because I knew he was dying,” said Gerth. She brought Sammy over for the last time so John could say goodbye to his four-legged friend. John died a short time later. “After John passed, his wife called me and asked if I would come to the wake and bring Sammy,” said Gerth. “When I arrived at the funeral home, there was this long line through the parking lot and into the door. Everyone came up to see Sammy and each and every one of them already knew about him.” When she made her way inside, she was surprised by what awaited her. Family pictures surrounded John’s body. And right in the midst of all of the photos were snapshots of his beloved friend, Sammy. “That’s when I got how much these silly dogs really mean to people,” said Gerth. “They’re not just dogs, they’re family.” The volunteers at KPETS have become so many things to so many people but for Gerth KPETS is a place to learn to suspend judgment, to remind her to follow her heart and a time to remember to be compassionate in all of her business endeavors. ■ LOCAL PERSPECTIVE THE CONSUMMATE STUDENT LAURA PHILLIPS When you see college students waiting tables to make ends meet, take a moment to think about Laura Phillips. Phillips quit working at a comfortable paying job to go back to college. To make ends meet for her family, she became a waitress at Iron Hill Brewery so she could pursue her passion to get a degree from Franklin and Marshall College. How Phillips found meaning: I felt helpless at my job. The commute was long and it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I always knew I wanted to go back to school to pursue my degree in English. I’ve always had a passion for it. So, I quit my job and went back to school. When I quit I had to make ends meet so I became a waitress again. I learned I could handle more responsibility than I ever thought possible. I have the responsibilities of a mother, student and breadwinner. Key to success: Some people believe it’s a bigger paycheck but I believe in working somewhere where you love what you’re doing. At the end of the day it all comes down to achieving your own goals. Proudest moment in business: I knew I had made a difference when my boss wrote me a glowing letter of recommendation so I could go back to school. It’s great to get positive feedback from other people and I loved hearing people come up and tell me I was an asset to the organization because of how well I handled their needs. November 2008 | Connections | 11
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