Thursday, August 06, 2009

Letter of Recommendation . . .

I'm applying to be a substitute teacher and as part of the application process, I need two letters of recommendation. One came from the editor who I freelance for at my local newspaper, and another came from a past co-work who also happens to be a close friend. I got such a boost from reading these letters that I decided that it would be fun to return the favor for my friend and write her one. She might be a bit embarrassed to see her fine qualities blatantly praised on this blog, so I'm going to call her Tricia Brown.
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Letter of Recommendation for Tricia Brown

To Whom it May Concern:

I would like to recommend Tricia Brown to you as the ideal candidate to fill any position. She is the full package. Not only is she a gifted listener, but she’s also adept at applying her experiences and knowledge to the information she’s heard and then coming up with realistic and successful solutions. She’s a caring and compassionate problem solver. Her plans for action are always well-conceived and practical. She considers all sides of an issue and always seems to find the ideal solution.

Work should be Tricia’s middle name. As a past co-worker, I noticed that Tricia was always busy with the task at hand. No loafing. No lally-gagging. Just honest, cheerful work. Her children have even noticed her work ethic. On a Mother’s Day survey it asked what their mother’s favorite thing to do was. One of her sons wrote, “Work.” Meaning, work around the house and yard.

Tricia knows how to get along well with others. She’s a people person extraordinaire! Her background in psychology has no doubt added to her people skills, but I believe that her native qualities of friendliness and compassion play an important role as well. She is a natural leader. Because she holds herself to high standards, her example encourages those around her to do their very best. She leads with cheerful encouragement and a can-do attitude.

As a manager, Tricia runs a tight ship. This can be seen in how she fulfills her duties as the Brown Family Manager. Despite the many financial demands of raising five children on one income, she keeps the balance sheet in the black. She recognizes her children as individuals and works with their unique personalities to help them learn and achieve their potential. Tricia is proactive. If she notices something needs to be done, be it big or small, she sees that it gets done. She delegates age-appropriate duties to children to help them develop life skills that will serve them well into adulthood. She supports her husband in his ecclesiastical duties and scholarly advancement. Tricia is the glue that holds her family together.

In addition to the abilities and gifts listed above, Tricia also has a talent for making and keeping friends. Somehow the circle of her influence always seems to have room for one more friend. She has an infinite capacity for loyalty, sharing and fun. I’ve enjoyed my association with Tricia as a past co-worker and neighbor, but I’m most proud to call her my friend.

Sincerely,



Christie Hansen
Hansen Family Manager

5 comments:

Tricia Brown said...

I'm flattered! Your excellent writing makes it sound even better than it is. Thank you!!

Flashlight Girl said...

What a wonderful compliment for your friend! I wish the world had more women like that. Are you really going to sub this year? Although I am now recertified, I will likely wait one more year. My baby starts Kindergarten in a few weeks, and I don't want to miss a minute of it. :)

Christie said...

So far, it's a go. Substitute teaching, here I come! I'm looking forward to getting out of the house a couple days a week and having a little extra spending money. (Not looking forward to kids trying to pull a fast one on the new sub, however. I'm sure they won't try it more than once.)

PhotoMom said...

Miss Brown is indeed lucky to have a friend like you who will take the time to "fill her bucket." We should all be that kind of friend. There is never enough praise for the Family Managers of this world who so richly deserve it!

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