This month’s Guest Blogger is Music Therapist April Mounts. April began her career at Mary Cariola in 1997.
“...I knew I found a very special place.”
As I begin my 25th year as a Music Therapist at Mary Cariola Center, I am prouder than ever to be a part of the Mary Cariola team! When I began working here in 1997, I knew I found a very special place that showed kindness, compassion and respect for our students. Unfortunately, this was not the case where I had worked prior to moving to Rochester. Working with the students and staff at Mary Cariola has filled my heart with happiness and joy.
Over the years, I have been humbled by my experiences. I have watched the students learn to walk, talk, play instruments, write poems, stories and songs! The amount of resilience, creativity and love demonstrated by the students never ceases to amaze me.
Within the classroom, staff move through their day embracing each student with support and kindness yet still providing the necessary challenges needed to learn and grow. Their knowledge of the students’ skills, interests and daily needs is so valuable when designing educational and clinical plans for individualized growth.
I believe what first drew me to Mary Cariola and has kept me here are the mission and values of the Agency. I am proud of how we work together to provide students with optimal learning opportunities and outstanding clinical care. I am also proud that as an agency, we strive to honor everyone’s abilities (both staff and students), strengths, differences and unique qualities. I am grateful for the support the administration has given to all employees particularly over the past year. Between the stress of COVID and the magnified racial and cultural divide in our country, I am thankful for the Agency’s dedication to providing ample opportunities for continued education, self-care and making a conscientious effort to cultivate a work environment that supports diversity, equity and inclusion for students, their families and staff. Barack Obama once said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” While there are still difficult conversations to be had and much work ahead of us, I believe Mary Cariola will rise to the challenge.
Music Therapist April Mounts with colleague Jason Willey-Bustos enjoy a music therapy session with Spirit and Kaydesha.
