By: Jesse Solomon
While in our addictions, we all learn skills we aren’t proud of. Some of us steal, some of us cheat, and some of us commit the most heinous crime of all—banking. Today’s spotlight is about one of those bankers. She was not just your everyday run-of-the-branch bank tellers. We are talking about a private wealth manager. We are talking about Rachel G.
Let’s take a step back and talk about how Rachel found herself as a vice president at one of the biggest banks in America (Let’s call it BofO). Like many stories of riches and self-exploration, this one begins in Oklahoma. Many of us don’t know much more about Oklahoma other than that the wind comes sweeping down the plain. One thing we can safely assume is that it wasn’t the most culturally diverse setting for a young Jewish girl to grow up in. Although she was born Jewish, her family raised her Catholic. She truly didn’t embrace her heritage until she left her hometown for the big city of Providence, Rhode Island for college. When arriving at college, she was shell shocked by the new colors and smells. For the first time in her life, she realized there was a whole world that she had yet to discover.
It started as a relatively harmless hobby, but soon became something much more insidious. I am talking about her banking career. Before long, Rachel was privately managing millions of dollars for influential one-percenters from around the country. No matter how talented and successful she was at her job, she knew that she had more to offer the world. After years and years of abusing alcohol, going in and out of treatment, and racking up a million-dollar insurance claim for treatment alone, she knew she had to change something with her life.
Throughout Rachel’s tours of rehabs, she had heard great things about a little Jewish treatment center in Culver City, so when looking for a new treatment center to attend, she made the call. Admittedly, she wasn’t ready. After refusing to stop taking the pills she was hooked on and drunkenly arguing with admissions about her willingness to get sober, she was denied entry. Her confusion that a rehab wouldn’t take her, no matter how much money she threw at them only made her want to come here more. This happened one more time until her fast and loose life came to a crashing halt. She and BofO made a mutual decision that her drinking problem and her time off because of it had gotten so detrimental, that they needed to part ways. With no direction, no purpose, and no hope, Rachel made one final attempt to get into the one treatment center that denied her. It took begging and a fair amount of newfound humility, but she finally made it in.
While at Beit T’Shuvah, Rachel’s main goal, aside from sobriety, was to discover what she wanted to do with her life now that her career was over. She knew she didn’t want to go back into banking because it wasn’t the rewarding experience she was looking for. Rarely at Beit T’Shuvah is there a person who takes on as many jobs as Rachel. She worked in the kitchen, the front desk, the career center, and the thrift store. While working in the career center, she came across a job that felt like it was meant for her. With her qualifications, she had no problem securing a job working for a non-profit to help unemployed people get new jobs, manage their funds, and find what career most suits their needs. This new career utilizes the skills she learned from banking and puts them to a good cause. Finally, she sees her future as a bright one, knowing exactly where and how to help herself and others.
Sadly for us, today is Rachel’s last day here. Her radiant energy and warm personality will be sorely missed by all. Although we are sad to see her go, we are all very glad to see her move on to bigger and better things.