Aurora Pineda Zarate said the best part of her job is the "interactions with people from all different walks of life," and it's a job she acquired through her best friend.
Zarate will celebrate her 14th year as a bilingual benefits, medical and supportive case manager in February.
"It's a great feeling, making a difference" by helping others through her work, she said.
That said, Zarate said her dream job is to be a film director/editor, which she went to school for, and her long-term goal is to make a film.
Zarate's biggest life issue she's overcome is the death of her grandfather and close friends, thus, she said, "I was not able share my present accomplishments and family with them."
Zarate, who also speaks Spanish, works with a wide age-range of needy, and said her job truly "has been very satisfying," especially for the gratitude she receives from those she aides. Her work involves a lot of referrals.
"Many are very grateful for what I do, but I'm just trying to be one less thing for them to have to worry about," she said.
THE STATS
Age
42
Town
Oak Park
Job
Bilingual Benefits, Medical & Supportive Case Manager
Relationship status
Committed; civil union to Karen. The two have been together for 12 years.
Children
Son named Reyes, 5, named after her dad.
Favorite movies
The Godfather, Citizen Kane, The Graduate and all Pedro Almodovar films
Favorite TV shows
Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, The Fosters and Orange is the New Black
Favorite local restaurant
Quaker Steak and Lube
Hobbies
Going to the movies, taking pictures, checking out old movie theaters, and camping
Little-known fact
"I love introducing my son to the cartoons that I watched as a kid, and we both love Angry Birds."