I have been disabled since the time of the accident. Soon after the accident, I began having seizures. Also, I noticed over the next few years that I was having serious psychological difficulties: problems controlling my temper, difficulties getting along with others, inability to make decisions. Due to these problems, I have never been able to hold a job for any length of time.
However, I did attempt to work many times. I once counted the number of jobs I had lost and came up with 40! I worked in many different positions: warehouse clerk, salesperson, mail clerk, data and entry operator, file clerk, etc. All the jobs ended for basically the same reason; I had a lot of trouble getting along with people.
In 1991, a counselor at the mental health clinic advised me to apply for disability benefits. I applied for benefits and was denied two times. That's when I contacted the Hawkins Center. With the help of my attorney, I was finally awarded benefits in 1992 after a successful hearing.
I want to get back to work as soon as possible. I have been working with counselors at the State Department of Rehabilitation. Through rehabilitation, I have been able to pursue my college education. I attended Contra Costa Junior College where I majored in Business Administration. I worked as a tutor, tutoring students in math, accounting and economics. In 1994, I graduated with Honors. In the spring of 1995, I began attending Cal State Hayward, again majoring in Business Administration. I should finish my education in the fall of 1998.
Presently, I am a licensed tax preparer and I am working for a well-known tax preparation firm. Last fall, I took a tax course offered by the firm and was then given an offer to work. So far, the job is going very well. I am getting along with my co-workers and I am enjoying myself.
My goal is to become a Certified Public Accountant. I would like to
open my own accounting shop. I am confident that I will be successful as
an accountant and that accounting is work I can do despite my problems
which have made it impossible for me to work in the past.