In between teaching, I had an opportunity to work within the legal field as a legal secretary, for quite a number of years and for the same firm, on two separate occasions.
F. Elliot Goldman, Esq.
Mr. Goldman was not only a genius attorney, but a forthright mentor who taught me to see the forest through the trees, not that Psychology background did not help in this. I began to work for him just a bit shy of 28 years old. Boy, was I naive. He opened my eyes to a lot of the “real” world I had apparently been sheltered from previously. He was wise, and guided me through some major transitions. When I left his employ to have my second child he was only happy for me. When I lost that child three years later, he and a fellow coworker made the trip all the way to Yucaipa, California to stand up with me.
My husband and I moved back from Yucaipa not long after Danny’s demise. Too many memories, I think. Mr. Goldman gave me an alternative to teaching at a time when I truly needed a more moderate pace (although being a legal secretary is not exactly moderate), but it does require less emotional investment than teaching. I stayed with him for four years until I missed teaching too much to stay away. He was sad to have me leave his employ to go back to teaching, but knew it was my joy and where my heart was truly at. We still see each other for lunch during school breaks and discuss our passion for the apocalyptic show, “The Walking Dead.” I am appreciative he was such a kind employer, but grateful he is my friend.
George Davidovich, Paralegal
Working with two men in a small office sure made it difficult to have “girl talk,” but both Fred and George let me talk when I needed guidance. Although George had previously been an attorney, he left that highly responsible, too many working hours type of life, for a higher quality of living. A good inspiration for anyone. George was and is amazingly great at seeing the inner you. He would give me the most thoughtful presents for my birthday. Not expensive, he knew that was not the point. My favorite gift of all was a set of special glass pencil sharpeners he obtained at an art shop because he knew I was always writing. I have been blessed to be surrounded by such kind people.
Eileen Sunny Ochoa
I met Sunny Ochoa one evening in 1998 through a program run by the Fullerton Evangelical Free Church called Divorce Recovery. The program was terrific, it had helpful speakers to address situations and circumstances particular to divorced individuals relating to stages of divorce, advice relating to legalities, finances, housing, etc, and after the speakers left, there was time for group support. Sunny lead my group. She and I clicked instantly although we were and are quite a bit different. We are both honest, have high ethical and moral character, and have faith in the Lord, Jesus. She just reminds me of a sweet southern belle, quiet, polite, sincere, dignified, and just a little bit reserved. She has an aura of domesticity, but she is also a razor-sharp super-hero in a crisis. You see, her day job is being a nurse (RN). She is pragmatic, logical, and a financial wizard at finding the best deal on the block. She and I have both endured the good, bad, and ugly of life, staying strong and whole, and faithful to the Lord. Our differences are more outward and superficial, than character based. I am an exceptional multitasker. I am a pragmatic and logical decision maker inside the body of a vibrant, passionate, exuberant, ADHD adult. I use that energy to spend my time on my passions – family, work, and hobbies.
I could not have a better friend in the world and she has always supported me. After my husband and I left Yucaipa, I was a bit adrift in between teaching jobs. In 2011, Sunny was head of the Divorce Recovery program and demonstrated her faith in me by giving me the opportunity to collaborate with her team and participate in the implementation of the revised Divorce Recovery program. It was an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it. Ordinarily, I would not typically recommend anyone using such a personal relationship for a professional recommendation; however, as both Sunny and I are honest, ethical, and moral, and I could not want for a better character of person to vouch for me as a person, friend, or teacher, it only made sense to include her recommendation as well.
Just A Lynn Minute 