Active Senior Living Resident Spotlight: Jacqueline C.

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Active Senior Living Resident
This active senior living resident is an inspiration to all she encounters.
 
Born in Philadelphia, PA, Jacqueline lived in a close-knit community. Many of the residents knew one another. She is one of four children, and has an older sister and a younger sister and brother.
 
Their local Boys Club kept them actively involved in the community. This provided plenty of opportunities to play with other kids in the area. Jackie remembers her parents as wonderful. Her mother never let anyone bother her children. Her father was around a little less, but they were well taken care of.

A Passion for Teaching

Even as a 5-year-old, Jackie had desires to pursue teaching. Her kindergarten and 6th grade teachers made lasting impressions on her. As a result, she never thought about doing anything else. Upon moving to New York, she worked as a receptionist for an Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital.
 
Jackie studied elementary education in her undergraduate work. She attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio. After graduating with her bachelor’s, she taught 3rd grade in the Toledo Public School System. She observed that many of the children didn’t seem like they were getting the teaching. Under the recommendation of her mentor, she decided to pursue a master’s in special education. She went back to her alma mater to get her master’s, and also attended a number of

universities in the Washington, D.C. area. Jackie attended Georgetown Trinity College, and Howard University. At Howard she almost completed a doctorate in the School of Educational Psychology.

Focusing on Special Education

Jackie then went to Prince George’s County in Maryland. She worked in special education with preschool students. Jackie also did orthopedic work with infants and toddlers. Eventually she became an educator in the age group for 31 years. She worked with children with cerebral palsy and infants with all kinds of developmental delays and physical needs.
 
The children were a driving factor behind her love of teaching. She has many memories, photographs and letters from students. As a result, these memories make her realize everything she did was worthwhile. She wouldn’t trade the experiences she had for the world.
Active Senior Living Resident

Pushing for Equality

Jackie is proud of her time as an active member in the local political community of Maryland. She was active with the NAACP, COBA, and the South Area Youth Services. Jackie also did a lot of work on many people’s campaigns. She pushed forward for equality within the political system.
 
Jackie later created a personal development group called Baby Steps. This acronym stands for Steps Toward Educational Progress and Success. In her

work, she tested kids (birth to 3 years old) who needed to learn how to use their skills further. She did it briefly before she received a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2008.

Jackie’s MS doesn’t keep her from doing everything. But some characteristics keep her from doing things she likes to do. MS affects each person differently. However, she’s thankful to the powers of the Father, as she is still able to do many things.

Marriage, Children & Grandchildren

She met her husband in high school. Later they both attended the same college. They had two children, together as they lived and loved. She loved everything about him; he was fun, a go-getter, and artistic. However, he unfortunately passed away not too long ago.

Jackie enjoyed watching her children grow up as she raised them. Her daughter, Kimberly, always knew the direction she wanted to go in life. Kimberly also has lots of drive, quite like her mother.

Her son, Jeff, is very good with his hands. Jackie is always amazed by the way his brain works. He’s clever and an overall organized person. Her daughter is actually the reason she made the move to California. Our weather conditions are great and Kimberly and Jeff are willing and able to help her out. Jackie also has four grandchildren, three from her son, and one from her daughter.

Jackie also enjoys gardening, interior decorating and reading magazine articles and autobiographies. She loves reading about the things people achieve outside of what you see on the big screen. In addition, she thoroughly enjoyed Nelson Mandela, Spike Lee and Dorothy Dandridge.

An Avid Traveler

Active Senior Living Resident

She’s also well-traveled, having gone to almost every Caribbean Island; visiting the Bahamas and Bermuda frequently. She’s been all across the United States and to Mexico, Paris, England, and Spain.

Jackie shares that Renaissance Village Murrieta is comfortable, peaceful and the people are nice. Although, she does miss her life on the east coast, she doesn’t feel alone.

Jacqueline C.’s Active Senior Living Resident Spotlight Interview:

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