Susan Zaro, Oak Creek Apartments Alumni & Sport Psychologist

“Gary would often ask me to sing along to a song he was singing even when I didn’t know the words. It was awkward since I am a poor singer. But he would encourage me to make up the words as I went along. It’s kind of a Albert Ellis technique. Albert Ellis was a therapist who would encourage his clients to do things that were harmless but potentially embarrassing to demonstrate to themselves that they can look silly and out of place and nothing really terrible is going to happen. It’s useful to practice that in life at times we are going to be out of our comfort zones and it’s okay, things are going to be just fine.”

“I think each student that comes through the Riekes Center has the opportunity to develop their passions. There are a lot of intangibles that students will walk away with if they embrace the experience.”